What a memory for those who were teenagers and for whom the 1998 World Cup remains an unforgettable highlight because it was seen through the eyes of the first time.
Emmanuel Petit’s charge, ball at his feet and mane in the wind, to score the third goal against Brazil in the final, will remain etched in the memories of all soccer lovers.
After a successful career in France and abroad, now a TV consultant, Emmanuel Petit remains the eternal “maverick” (“embraced,” he says during his visit to Nice to promote his evocatively titled book).
The former champion offers in this book his philosophy of football and the game.
Starting from a critical and clear-eyed assessment of the current values of French and international football, he questions the true motivations of the players and highlights the multiple stakes of the king of sports.
Drawing from his experience, he proposes solutions, “his” solutions, to return to more dignified values: sport as a school of life, of citizenship, as a driving force especially in the suburbs.
“I’m not going to go so far as to say it was better before. But finance has swallowed up the professional world. Today, the sporting aspect is no longer a priority. Profitability must be maximized. I think everyone has their responsibilities in this evolution. What about meritocracy? It is constantly being cheapened at the expense of profitability. I don’t think this is beneficial for football in the long term,” he says with conviction.
Embracing the maverick… as we said!
