Frank Leboeuf spent most of his career between Racing Club de Strasbourg in France and Chelsea Football Club in England. With the Blues, he is world champion 98 and Europe in 2000. After the end of his career, he begins an atypical reconversion: he becomes an actor and officiates as a football consultant in the media.
At the microphone of Bixente Lizarazu, Frank Lebœuf talks about the final of the world cup 98, a match which was difficult to live psychologically.
A World Cup final under pressure
In 1998, Frank Leboeuf took part in the World Cup final with the French team. He replaces Laurent Blanc who was sent off in the semi-final. Under pressure, he says he experienced the moment of victory as a relief. “That day is the worst day of my life and the most beautiful evening of my life”.
The ex-footballer explains having lived three hellish days between the semi-final and the final. Around him, everyone doubted his abilities and wondered how it was going to be possible to win the match without Laurent Blanc in the team.
His psychological preparation was difficult because he felt completely devalued and expected at the turn. He even remembers telling his wife that if he lost everyone would say it was his fault.
When we were in the tunnel, I thought to myself: but why don’t I go and run away into the woods? I wanted anything but want to be there. – Frank Leboeuf
The press was not kind to him either. He explains that he was considered a great player all over the world, except in France. “I knew I was strong and that I was able to hold out against great players”, he says. He remembers in particular a portrait in The team who presented him as a player who had nothing to do with the France team.
Bixente Lizarazu, who was his team-mate, reacts and emphasizes that his place of replacement was not easy, because he was not in the rhythm of the matches like the other players. He takes the opportunity to reassure him: “You were exceptional, you had a crazy final in a difficult psychological context”.
Frank Lebœuf confides in the book Believe it for yourself publishes Le Courrier du livre. He looks back on his journey and tells how he managed to draw from himself the necessary strength to always go further and live his dreams.