France 1998
Final: France 3-0 Brazil
When Joao Havelange was bidding to become FIFA president in 1974 he promised that if he was elected, Asian and African countries would get more opportunities to compete on the world stage.
The process began in 1982 when the World Cup was increased to 24 nations and was completed in 1998 when the first 32-team tournament was staged.
Japan, South Africa and Jamaica were among the debutants at France ‘98, which began with champions Brazil beating Scotland 2-1 in Paris on 10 June.
Brazil were again expected to do well, but France were expected to do even better with the benefit of a far-sighted national youth training program producing the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry.
France, debutants Croatia, Brazil and Netherlands made it through to the last four.
Brazil beat the Dutch on penalties in one semi-final, and France edged Croatia 2-1 in the other to set up a first final between the hosts and the champions.
In the end, France won their first World Cup with even more ease than the 3-0 result suggests. Brazilian striker Ronaldo had a seizure on the night before the final and was clearly unfit to play – but he did.
Brazil had no answer to the brilliance of Zidane, who ran the match and scored twice. Emmanuel Petit added the coup de grace in the last minute with the third goal.
The scenes on the Champs Elysees on the night of the final will never be forgotten by those lucky enough to be there. The World Cup, invented by the Frenchman Jules Rimet, had finally come home.
