1998 FIFA World Cup

The Story of 1998: When France Conquered the World

The 16th FIFA World Cup arrived in France during the summer of 1998, and by the time the final whistle sounded at the Stade de France on July 12th, the host nation had etched its name into football immortality. What unfolded over those 32 days was a tournament of expansion, mystery, and ultimately, French triumph.

A Larger Stage

For the first time in World Cup history, the tournament expanded from 24 to 32 teams, creating eight groups of four and extending the competition to 64 matches across ten host cities. The newly constructed Stade de France in Saint-Denis served as the crown jewel, hosting the opening match and the final. The expansion brought new nations into the fold, with Japan, Jamaica, and South Africa making their first World Cup appearances.

The 32-day competition became the longest World Cup ever staged, producing 171 goals for an average of 2.67 per match. The tournament also set an unfortunate record with 18 red cards and 250 yellow cards, reflecting the heightened intensity of knockout football on the expanded stage.

Les Bleus’ Path to Glory

France entered their home tournament with a squad brimming with talent but carrying the weight of expectation. Zinedine Zidane, the graceful playmaker from Marseille, had become the face of French football, but doubts lingered about whether this generation could deliver when it mattered most.

The group stage provided both dominance and controversy. France swept through their group with three victories, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. But in their second match against Saudi Arabia, Zidane was sent off for stamping on Fuad Anwar, becoming the first French player to receive a red card in World Cup finals history. It was a moment of madness that threatened to derail their campaign.

Without their maestro, France navigated a tense 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16, with Laurent Blanc scoring a golden goal in extra time. Zidane returned for the quarterfinal against Italy, a cagey affair that ended goalless after 120 minutes. In the penalty shootout, Zidane stepped up first and converted, setting the tone as France prevailed 4-3.

The semifinal brought Croatia, the tournament’s surprise package, to the Stade de France. Trailing 1-0 after Davor Suker’s clinical finish, France needed a hero. Lilian Thuram, a defender who had never scored for his country, produced the impossible: two goals in the second half to send France to the final. It remains one of the great individual performances in World Cup history.

The Ronaldo Mystery

What happened to Ronaldo on the afternoon of July 12, 1998, remains one of football’s most enduring mysteries. The Brazilian striker had been the tournament’s outstanding player, his explosive pace and predatory instincts carrying Brazil to the final. He was named winner of the Golden Ball, football’s highest individual honor at a World Cup.

But in the hours before the final, chaos engulfed the Brazil camp at their hotel, the Chateau de Grande Romaine. Ronaldo, sharing a room with Roberto Carlos, suffered a convulsive fit, his body shaking uncontrollably, foam forming at his mouth. Teammates rushed to help, with Edmundo preventing him from swallowing his tongue.

Ronaldo was rushed to hospital, spending three hours undergoing tests. “I did everything that you could imagine,” he later told the BBC. Coach Mario Zagallo initially named Edmundo in the starting lineup, telling players that Ronaldo was out. Then, just 40 minutes before kickoff, Ronaldo arrived at the stadium and begged to play.

The decision to include him has been debated ever since. Team doctor Lidio Toledo later admitted the pressure he faced: “Imagine if I stopped him playing and Brazil lost. At that moment I’d have to go and live on the North Pole.” On the pitch, Ronaldo was a ghostly presence, nothing like the explosive force who had terrorized defenses throughout the tournament.

Theories have swirled for decades. Some point to pressure and nervous exhaustion. Others blame medication, specifically an anaesthetic called xylocaine allegedly given minutes before the attack. Conspiracy theorists have suggested Nike pressured Brazil to play their star attraction. The truth remains elusive.

Owen’s Explosion and Beckham’s Despair

The Round of 16 clash between England and Argentina in Saint-Etienne produced one of the tournament’s defining moments. Michael Owen, an 18-year-old with fearless confidence, announced himself to the world with a goal of breathtaking audacity.

Receiving David Beckham’s delicate chip in his own half, Owen embarked on a 60-yard run, gliding past Chamot and then Ayala before rifling a shot past Carlos Roa. It was the goal that launched a career, instantly transforming Owen into England’s newest footballing hero.

But the match’s defining image was darker. In the 48th minute, after being fouled by Diego Simeone, David Beckham lay face-down on the pitch as the Argentine stood over him, rubbing his knuckles against Beckham’s head in provocation. Beckham, foolishly, flicked his leg backward, catching Simeone, who collapsed theatrically. The red card was inevitable.

Down to ten men, England fought valiantly through extra time, with Sol Campbell even heading in what appeared to be a winning goal, only for it to be disallowed. In the penalty shootout, Paul Ince and David Batty both missed, sending England home and Beckham into a spiral of national vilification. Effigies were burned. Newspapers branded him “The Stupid Boy.” It would take four years and a penalty against Argentina in 2002 for Beckham’s redemption.

Suker’s Golden Boot

Croatia’s remarkable run to third place was fueled by the sublime finishing of Davor Suker. The Real Madrid striker scored six goals to claim the Golden Boot, his mixture of intelligence, technique, and composure proving irresistible. His delicate chip over Peter Schmeichel against Denmark epitomized his elegance.

Croatia’s 3-0 demolition of Germany in the quarterfinals announced them as a genuine force, and though France ended their dream in the semifinals, Suker and his teammates had captured hearts worldwide. Their third-place finish, achieved by defeating the Netherlands 2-1, remains Croatia’s best World Cup performance prior to their 2018 and 2022 final appearances.

Zidane’s Crowning Glory

The final at the Stade de France, before 80,000 spectators and a global television audience of billions, was supposed to be Ronaldo’s coronation. Instead, it became Zinedine Zidane’s masterpiece.

With Ronaldo drifting through the match like a specter, France seized control from the outset. In the 27th minute, Emmanuel Petit swung a corner from the left. Zidane, attacking the near post, met the ball with a powerful header that crashed into the net. The Stade de France erupted.

Just before halftime, the scene repeated itself. This time, Youri Djorkaeff delivered the corner, and again Zidane rose highest, guiding his header past Taffarel. France led 2-0 at the break, and Brazil’s challenge had effectively ended.

In stoppage time, with Brazil pushing desperately forward, Emmanuel Petit completed the rout, stroking home France’s third goal. The final whistle triggered celebrations across the nation. An estimated 1.5 million people flooded the Champs-Elysees, the largest French public gathering since the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants who had grown up in the tough Marseille suburb of La Castellane, had delivered France their first World Cup title. He was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration, and became an instant national hero.

The Legacy

France 1998 proved that the expanded 32-team format could work, setting the template for future tournaments. The Stade de France became an iconic venue. French football, previously an underachiever on the world stage, emerged as a dominant force, with success at Euro 2000 confirming their generation as one of history’s finest.

For Ronaldo, the pain of 1998 would fuel his remarkable 2002 redemption, when he scored eight goals, including both in the final against Germany, to claim the World Cup he had been denied. For Zidane, France ‘98 was just the beginning of a career that would establish him as his generation’s defining player.

Australia at the 1998 World Cup

Australia did not participate in the 1998 World Cup.

Group Stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Top Scorers - Golden Boot Race

Tournament Awards

• Golden Ball: Ronaldo (Brazil)
• Silver Ball: Davor Suker (Croatia)
• Bronze Ball: Lilian Thuram (France)
• Golden Boot: Davor Suker (Croatia)
• Silver Boot: Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)
• Silver Boot: Christian Vieri (Italy)
• Golden Glove: Fabien Barthez (France)
• Best Young Player: Michael Owen (England)

Did You Know?

• Gabriel Batistuta scored 3 goals for Argentina in a single group stage match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
• Argentina vs England went to penalties (4-3) in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Round of 16
• Italy vs France went to penalties (3-4) in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals
• Brazil vs Netherlands went to penalties (4-2) in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals

Tournament Statistics Summary

Complete Match Results

Group Stage

Round of 16

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Third-Place Match

Final

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