Like Super Bowl tickets, the tickets for the World Cup semifinal in Saint-Denis (as well as the tickets for the quarterfinal that my brother and I attended at Giants Stadium in 1994) are souvenir tickets, to add to that sense of it having been a really big deal. I absolutely loved them, and kept them both through the years. Even now, admittedly, I take them out every now and then to simply look at them, and appreciate the fact that my brother and I managed to go to such huge events, and in consecutive World Cups, to boot! The two nations that we are citizens of hosted the World Cup tournament back-to-back, which made me feel almost like an experienced aficionado after the semifinal with Croatia!
France wore their blue (home) jerseys for the game against Paraguay along with their traditional white shorts and red socks. Paraguay wore red and white striped jersey, and blue shorts.
France had blown past the round robin of World Cup play in 1998, winning all three games by a combined score of 9-1. That qualified them to move on to the elimination round, where Paraguay would be their first opponent.
France was strongly favored to win, but Paraguay held strong behind a solid defense and excellent goal-tending. As the game wore on, it became clear that one goal scored by either side would likely prove the difference.
Regulation ended without a score, and it went into overtime. But not just any overtime. For the first time in history, the World Cup incorporated a system of sudden death, where one goal - any goal by either side - would win the match.
As history would prove, France managed to be the first team to win a World Cup game with a so-called "Golden Goal" to win the game, and move on to the next round.
Final score, France 1, Paraguay 0.
Still, I remember watching this particular game live at home, knowing that I was on my way to France in a little over a week from this date, and strongly pulling for France to win the whole tournament, if that was at all possible.
Admittedly, I had my moments of doubt during this game, as Paraguay truly played some inspired ball and looked capable at times of pulling off a huge upset.
In the end, however, France held very tough, too. It might not have been the most dominant performance, and it hardly signaled that France was blazing a trail to their first ever World Cup Final, let alone the championship. Yet, they managed to get through to fight another day. They had just enough and sometimes, maybe, that is enough.
So, here is the video of this game, which I personally remember well. France defeating Paraguay in the round of 16, 17 years ago on this day.
France v. Paraguay
28 juin 1998 - Coupe du Monde -8e de Finale/ Round of Sixteen - Stade Félix-Bollaert (Lens)
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