France 98 was different. It just was. If you were there, or even if you were just glued to a chunky CRT television screen in June of 1998, you felt it. The 1998 football world cup wasn't just another tournament; it was the moment football officially became the global monoculture. It was the first time we had 32 teams, a format that felt massive yet manageable, unlike the bloated versions we're seeing proposed today.
It had everything. The drama of the Golden Goal. The rise of Zinedine Zidane. The mysterious medical emergency involving Ronaldo—the "original" Ronaldo—on the day of the final. Honestly, if you scripted what happened to the Brazilian team on July 12, 1998, a Hollywood producer would probably tell you it’s too unrealistic. But that’s the thing about this specific World Cup. It was peak reality. It was the bridge between the old-school, slightly grittier football of the 80s and the hyper-commercialized, social media-driven era we live in now.
The Ronaldo Mystery That Still Doesn't Make Sense
Let’s talk about the final for a second. Everyone expected Brazil to walk it. They had Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, a man who was playing football at a speed and level of physicality that seemed like it was from the future. He had four goals going into the final. Then, the team sheets came out.
Ronaldo wasn't on it.
The media room at the Stade de France went into a literal meltdown. Edmundo was listed as the starter. Then, forty-five minutes before kick-off, a new sheet appeared. Ronaldo was back. But he was a ghost. He wandered the pitch, looking dazed. Years later, we found out he’d suffered a convulsive fit in his sleep that afternoon. Roberto Carlos found him. The medical staff cleared him to play, but the psychological damage to the Seleção was already done. France, led by a majestic Zidane, smelled blood.
Zizou scored two headers. France won 3-0. The country exploded.
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Why the 32-Team Format Actually Worked
People forget that before 1998, the World Cup was a 24-team affair. Moving to 32 felt risky at the time. Critics thought it would dilute the quality. They were wrong. It gave us the rise of Croatia, a brand-new nation finishing third thanks to the lethal left foot of Davor Šuker. It gave us Jamaica’s "Reggae Boyz" and South Africa’s "Bafana Bafana."
The variety of playing styles was incredible. You had the tactical discipline of the Europeans, the flair of the South Americans, and the raw, emerging power of the African nations like Nigeria, who famously beat Spain 3-2 in the group stages. Remember Sunday Oliseh’s thunderbolt strike? That’s an image burned into the brain of every football fan from that era.
It was also the year of the "Golden Goal." FIFA thought it would encourage attacking play in extra time. It did the opposite—teams became terrified of conceding—but it created some of the most heart-stopping moments in history. Laurent Blanc’s winner against Paraguay in the Round of 16 is still one of the most relieved celebrations you'll ever see.
England vs. Argentina: The Rivalry Reborn
You can’t discuss the 1998 football world cup without mentioning Saint-Étienne. England versus Argentina. It had the weight of the Falklands War, the "Hand of God" from 1986, and the sheer talent of two squads at their absolute zenith.
Michael Owen, an 18-year-old kid, scored a goal that looked like something out of a video game. He took the ball from David Beckham, sprinted past the Argentine defense like they were standing in wet concrete, and tucked it into the top corner. Then, the pendulum swung. David Beckham, the golden boy of English football, kicked out at Diego Simeone. Red card.
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England played the rest of the game with ten men, fought like lions, and eventually lost on penalties. Because of course they did. Beckham became the national scapegoat overnight. Effigies were burned. It was brutal, unfair, and totally captivating. It’s the kind of high-stakes drama that defines why we care about this sport so much.
The Iconic "Tricolore" and the Aesthetic of 98
Everything about 1998 looked better. The ball—the Adidas Tricolore—was the first to feature multi-colored graphics. It was a departure from the classic black and white Tango designs. The kits were baggy, flamboyant, and iconic. Think of the Mexican jersey with the Aztec calendar print, or the vibrant yellow of Brazil with the green stripes.
The stadiums were masterpieces, too. The Stade de France was built specifically for the tournament and felt like a spaceship had landed in Saint-Denis. But it wasn't just the big stadiums. Places like Montpellier and Bordeaux had this intimacy that made the matches feel like community events.
Facts and Figures Most People Forget
- Total Goals: 171 goals were scored, a record at the time (later tied in 2014 and broken in 2022).
- The Red Cards: There were 22 red cards shown throughout the tournament, reflecting a new FIFA crackdown on tackles from behind.
- The Mascot: Footix the rooster. Love him or hate him, he was everywhere.
- The Anthem: Ricky Martin’s "The Cup of Life" (La Copa de la Vida) set the standard for what a World Cup song should be. It was loud, infectious, and actually good.
The "Black-Blanc-Beur" Illusion
For France, the 1998 football world cup was supposed to be a turning point for society. The team was nicknamed "Black-Blanc-Beur" (Black, White, Arab), representing the multi-ethnic makeup of the squad. Zidane was of Algerian descent, Thuram was born in Guadeloupe, and Djorkaeff had Armenian roots.
When they won, a million people flooded the Champs-Élysées. It felt like France had solved its integration problems through football. In hindsight, we know that wasn't true—social tensions remained—but for that one summer, the "Zidane for President" chants felt like they actually meant something. It showed the power of sport to provide a temporary, beautiful mask for complex societal issues.
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The Tactical Shift
Technically, 1998 was the beginning of the end for the traditional "number 10" playmaker who just stood around and waited for the ball. You started to see the rise of the "pivot" or the defensive midfielder who could also play. Didier Deschamps (the French captain) was the "water carrier." He did the dirty work so Zidane could shine. This balance became the blueprint for every successful international team for the next two decades.
Also, the 3-5-2 formation was in its absolute prime. Croatia used it to devastating effect. It allowed wing-backs to fly forward, creating overloads that traditional 4-4-2 systems struggled to handle. Watching Robert Jarni bomb down the left wing for Croatia was a lesson in modern wing-back play before the term was even popular.
Why 1998 Still Matters Today
We look back at 1998 with nostalgia because it was the last World Cup that felt "human." It wasn't drowned out by VAR controversies or state-owned club politics. It was just 22 guys on a pitch, a ball that moved unpredictably, and a global audience that wasn't distracted by second-screen scrolling.
It taught us that favorites could stumble (Germany being dismantled 3-0 by Croatia), that legends could be human (Ronaldo’s fit), and that a home nation could actually rise to the pressure and win the whole thing.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the 1998 football world cup today, don't just watch the highlights of the final. Do these things:
- Watch the full replay of England vs. Argentina. It is perhaps the most "complete" game of football ever played in terms of narrative, skill, and controversy.
- Study Zinedine Zidane’s movement. Notice how he doesn't run the most, but he always has the most space. It’s a masterclass in spatial awareness.
- Look at the 1998 Croatia squad. If you follow modern football, you'll see how their 1998 run laid the foundation for their 2018 final appearance and their 2022 success. It’s a lineage of excellence.
- Revisit the "Ronaldo Final" controversy. Read the independent reports on his health that came out years later. It’s a fascinating look at the intersection of athlete health and commercial pressure.
The 1998 football world cup wasn't just a tournament; it was a vibe. It was the peak of 90s optimism before the world got a lot more complicated. Whether it was Bergkamp’s impossible touch and finish against Holland or the sheer joy of the French fans, it remains the gold standard for what a sporting event should feel like. It was big, it was messy, and it was beautiful.