August 16, 1995: France-Pologne, first stay

On August 16, 1995, France and Poland neutralized (1-1) at the Parc des Princes in the eliminations of Euro 1996. Moreover, A miraculous free kick maintains the men of Aimé Jacquet in the race.

It was at the heart of the summer of 1995. However, when the season has just started, that the French team played at the Parc des Princes a capital meeting for its future. In addition, After six playoffs for Euro 1996. Moreover, Aimé Jacquet’s team has ten points, as much as Poland, while Romania took off at the top of group 1. In addition, The meeting of August 16. In addition, 1995 at the Parc des Princes is of capital importance since its winner takes an option for the second qualifying place and the defeated risk of not seeing England.

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Zidane with baguette – August 16, 1995: france-pologne, first

The beautiful victory august 16, 1995: france-pologne, first (4-0) against Slovakia in Nantes relaunched the Tricolores. Moreover, who then accumulated zero matches. Similarly, She somewhat put the criticisms on the back and allowed the coach to identify an interesting framework. Nevertheless, Against Poland. However, Aimé Jacquet preserves the midfielder who was the big satisfaction of the Nantes match with Desailly, Deschamps and Guérin behind Zidane as a playmaker.

The defense. Moreover, on the other hand, is particularly altered due to the wounds on white and rock injury and the suspension of Di Meco. Therefore, The coach then creates an unprecedented central hinge with Frank Lebœuf. Consequently, Lilian Thuram while on the sides are aligned Jocelyn Anglooma and Bixente Lizarazu. Consequently, In front. For example, the unavailability of Loko and Cantona lead the coach to associate Christophe Dugarry to David Ginola, a duo of attack already tested a year earlier during France-Czech Republic (2-2) in Bordeaux.

The match is august 16, 1995: france-pologne, first one way. Meanwhile, The tricolors are in the same state of mind as in Nantes. Furthermore, multiply the offensives, under the wand of an increasingly influential Zinedine Zidane. But goalkeeper Andrezj Woźniak is also in a big night and multiplies decisive stops. The Polish team remains grouped in defense and focus on recovery and counterattack.

Eight hundred minutes

Ten minutes from half-time, Zidane is tackled by a defender and loses the ball in the midfield. The Poles trigger a flash of lightning that leads to Andrezj Juskowiak. When he entered the surface on the left side. the Olympiakos striker leaves Bernard Lama no chance, who collects his first goal after eight hundred minutes of tricolor invincibility. The previous goal dated a year at least one day, a work of the Czech Daniel Šmejkal in Bordeaux. Additionally, The Parisian goalkeeper, one evening captain, had then kept his invited cage august 16, 1995: france-pologne, first during eight meetings in a row. The record will not be broken until 2004.

The French team is led 1-0 at the break. the public of the Parc des Princes said that this result is not to its liking. In the second half, the Blues created many opportunities but lacks offensive efficiency. The Polish team is increasingly compact. especially since it has been reduced to ten since the exclusion of defender Tomasz łapiński just before the time of play.

Aimé Jacquet tries to energize his team by some changes. Reynald Pedros replaces David Ginola. Christian Karembeu takes the place of Jocelyn Anglooma, then Youri Djorkaeff replaced Frank Lebœuf, which leads Marcel Desailly to take place in central defense. As we enter the last ten minutes of play. Zidane approaches the Polish cage but is irregularly grabbed by a defender. The Spanish referee Manuel Diaz Vega grants a august 16, 1995: france-pologne, first penalty to the French. Bixente Lizarazu takes care of it, but goalkeeper Woźniak pushes the shot from Bordeaux.

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The Djorkaeff miracle

There are only a few minutes left to play. Lilian Thuram in turn tries a breakthrough in the Polish defense. but after a relay with Djorkaeff, he is broke around the surface. The referee grants a free kick. The two replacements. Pedros and Djorkaeff discuss around the ball, laid twenty meters from the Polish cage, slightly on the right. Everything indicates that it is the Nantes left -hander who will strike him. but Djorkaeff finally tries his luck, with a right foot. Its floating strike passes over the Polish wall. will nestle on the right of the goalkeeper, which dives too late. Woźniak was probably waiting for a pedros shot.

The Parc des Princes explodes with joy and the French push a relief phew. august 16, 1995: france-pologne, first There is still a handful of minutes to play to tear off the victory. Christophe Dugarry tries a final shot at close range, which crashes on the post. The Spanish referee whistles the end of the match on a zero score (1-1). which does not satisfy any of the two teams. However, it allows the French to keep a chance of qualification, but the remark is identical for the Poles. The neutralization of the two teams also leaves Slovakia and Israel in the race.

A few days later. in Saint-Denis, Prime Minister Alain Juppé laid the first stone of the “Grand Stade” intended to welcome the 1998 World Cup final. The event does not yet vibrate the country. which hopes above all a qualification of its team at Euro 1996, after the traumatic elimination of the 1994 World Cup.

Did not come into play: Bruno Martini (Guardian, Auxerre) and Christophe Cocard (attacker, auxerre)