Francia doblegó la noche del 12 de julio de 1998 a Brasil en el Stade de France para ganar su primera Copa del Mundo hace 20 años. Fue la gran noche de consagración de Zinedine Zidane con la camiseta azul al anotar dos tantos en la Gran Final. Luego, Emmanuel Petit concretó el tercer gol para redondear aquella noche mágica de los galos.
Esa noche, Francia rompió con varios datos históricos.
-Solamente tres equipos en la historia han podido ganar por diferencia de tres tantos: Brasil tras el 5-2 sobre Suecia en 1958, Brasil con la goleada de 4-1 sobre Italia en 1970 y Francia sobre los brasileños en 1998.
-Francia se convirtió en la sexta nación en ganar el torneo en casa. Antes lo hicieron Uruguay en 1930, Italia en 1934, Inglaterra en 1966, Alemania Occidental en 1974 y Argentina 1978.
-75.8% de las televisoras en Francia sintonizaron aquella final.
-Con información de FIFA.com
(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on July 11, 2018, shows France’s head coach Didier Deschamps (L) shouting from the sideline during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group C football match between Denmark and France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 26, 2018 ; and Didier Deschamps, then French captain and midfielder during the 1998 Soccer World Cup semifinal match between France and Croatia on July 8, 1998. The French National Football team prepares to join the final of the Russia 2018 World Cup after beating Belgium 1-0 on July 10, 2018, almost twenty years after France won the World Cup in 1998. / AFP PHOTO / Franck FIFE AND Gabriel BOUYSFRANCK FIFE,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 12, 1998 French captain Didier Deschamps (C) waves and defender Lilian Thuram holds the trophy as French players celebrate on the pitch of Stade de France in Saint-Denis, after France defeated Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Soccer World Cup final. France team will play against Belgium in Saint Petersburg on July 10, 2018, its sixth World Cup semi-final. On July 8, 1998 France played against Croatia in Saint-Denis, and won 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIADANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (DANIEL GARCIA / AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 12, 1998 (From left) French players Bernard Diomede, Lilian Thuram, Didier Deschamps and Thierry Henry celebrate after receiving the 1998 FIFA trophy 12 July at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis after France bear Brazil 3-0 in the final of the 1998 Soccer World Cup. The French National Football team prepares to join the final of the Russia 2018 World Cup after beating Belgium 1-0 on July 10, 2018, almost twenty years after France won the World Cup in 1998. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIADANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (DANIEL GARCIA / AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 12, 1998 (From L) French players Robert Pires, Bixente Lizarazu, Zinedine Zidane and Marcel Desailly during the FIFA Trophy presentation ceremony at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, after the 1998 World Cup final between France and Brazil on July 12, 1998. The French National Football team prepares to join the final of the Russia 2018 World Cup on July 15, 2018 after beating Belgium 1-0 on July 10, 2018, almost twenty years after France won the World Cup in 1998. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIADANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (DANIEL GARCIA / AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 8, 1998 French defender Lilian Thuram , who scored the two goals for his team, is carried on the shoulders of goalkeeper Bernard Lama as they celebrate with (from L) Stephane Guivarc’h, Thierry Henry, and Emmanuel Petit France defeated Croatia 2-1 in their World Cup semi-final match, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. France team will play against Belgium in Saint Petersburg on July 10, 2018, its sixth World Cup semi-final. On July 8, 1998 France played against Croatia in Saint-Denis, and won 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Thomas COEXTHOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (THOMAS COEX / AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 8, 1998 French defender Marcel Desailly (2nd L) hugs teammate Lilian Thuram (foreground) as Laurent Blanc (#5) raises his arms after Thuram scored a goal for his team during the Soccer World Cup semi-final match France vs Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. France team will play against Belgium in Saint Petersburg on July 10, 2018, its sixth World Cup semi-final. On July 8, 1998 France played against Croatia in Saint-Denis, and won 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Philippe HUGUENPHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP/Getty Images)
SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE: A file picture dated 12 July 1998 shows French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez (up) jumping over Brazilian forward Ronaldo (C) as teammate Lilian Thuram (L) looks on at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, during the final match for the 1998 World Cup. France will play against Brazil for the quarter-finals of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany 01 July 2006. It will be the first time the two teams meet since France defeated Brazil in 1998. AFP PHOTO /PATRICK HERTZOG (Photo credit should read PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images) (PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP/Getty Images)
YEAREND PICTURES 2000 - France’s Sylvain Wiltord (L) celebrates with team mate Marcel Desailly (R) after France defeated Italy 2-1 in extra time in the European Championship final in Rotterdam July 2, 2000. Wiltord scored the equalizing goal against Italy late in injury time to force the match into extra time. France went on to score the all-important golden goal during extra time to add the European Championship to their World title won on home soil in 1998. REUTERS/Charles Platiau ORG XMIT: POY81D (CHARLES PLATIAU / REUTERS)