Youri Djorkaeff and Alan Poghosian, two Armenian footballers, which became World and European champions in the composition of France national football team in 1998 and 2000.
This edition of Mediamax Sport’s In One Shot series is dedicated to a man with a brilliant football career, Youri Djorkaeff and his teammates. Djorkaeff is always connected to Armenia, the homeland of his ancestors.
In 1998 FIFA World Cup Final took place at Stade de France. The competitors were Brazil, the winner of 1994 World Cup, and France, which got to the final for the first time.
France attached special importance to this victory. Brazil had already registered 4 victories in this tournament by the time it arrived in Europe with its best squad.
Nevertheless, Zinedine Zidane and his teammates succeeded in getting the gold medals right under the nose of the Brazilians.
First of all, Ronaldo’s health condition worsened and he wasn’t able to really help the team. Zinedine Zidane was brilliant though, scoring goals in the 27th and additional minutes of the first half. Youri Djorkaeff made a pass for the second goal.
After that goal Zidane and Emmanuel Petit started to celebrate the victory. The 3rd victorious goal was scored by Petit during the 90+3rd minute.
Finally the cherished dream of French people and little Youri came into reality.
In spring of 1998, several months before the World Cup, Youri Djorkaeff’s mother received a letter from Monique Deruoi, his teacher of literature. She occasionally found the composition of 10-year old Youri “When I grow up” and decided to send it to his mother.
“When I grow up, I would like to be a footballer. I want to play in the composition of great clubs like Liverpool, become a central forward, score a lot of goals and perform at New York Space. I wish to play with Kroft, Pelé and Beckenbauer. I would also love to participate in World Cup when I am 20 and score the only goal in the final,” he wrote in 1978.
Although partially but Djorkaeff’s dream came true. Further he became European champion and played in a number of great clubs, but Pelé and Beckenbauer had already completed their careers.
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