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Thuram insists he's no hero
Posted: Wednesday July 08, 1998 08:58 PM
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France's Lilian Thuram hits past Croatia's Zvonimir Soldo to score the winning goal for France (AP) |
PARIS (Reuters) -- Lilian Thuram, the quietest man in the France squad,
did not feel the need to make a noise after scoring both goals in a 2-1
victory over Croatia that
propelled the host nation into their first World Cup final.
"I'm no hero," said the 26-year-old from Guadeloupe after Wednesday's
match at the Stade de France. "I did my best as usual but the team won, not
just me."
Thuram, who had never scored in 37 appearances for his country, struck
twice when it mattered most, canceling out a goal by Davor Suker seconds
after the break before hitting the winner in the 70th minute.
The defender silenced those who have been saying for years that he lacks
confidence in front of goal by ramming home a Youri Dorkaeff pass in the
47th minute to level the tie.
He then dispossessed Robert Jarni before curling a beautiful left-foot
shot with the coolness of a seasoned striker.
"If you say it's a nice goal, then it must be," he said. "But what counts
is that we're in the final, all 22 of us. We worked very hard for it and we
deserve it."
Thuram was regarded as a substitute until France's second match of Euro
'96 in England against
Spain, when he
was preferred to the aging Jocelyn Angloma.
He was so outstanding that Angloma never recaptured his place. Coach Aime
Jacquet played Thuram in all 18 matches France played between Euro '96 and
the current World Cup -- a feat matched by no other player in the squad.
One of five children, the discreet, almost shy Lilian saw his father
leave home when he was a young child. His mother then left Guadeloupe to
work in France as a housekeeper.
Lilian and his brother and sisters stayed in Guadeloupe where an uncle
looked after them. His mother sent her savings to allow her children to
come to France and, one after the other, they joined her.
By now means a star Thuram, who learned his trade at Monaco before
joining Parma, is arguably one of the finest defenders in Europe but he
never attracts headlines.
His double against Croatia will have changed that.
"The two goals scored by Lilian are a great reward for us but especially
for him," said Jacquet. "He deserves it. He's had such a great World Cup."
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