Zidane and France Relive the Spirit of 1998

PARIS, July 12, 2008 – Zinedine Zidane pulled on the blue shirt of France one more time on Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the country’s 1998 World Cup triumph.

But the occasion at the Stade de France was overshadowed by the death of a young fan who was killed in a road accident on his way to the ground.

Zidane, who scored twice in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the World Cup final 10 years ago, scored the first goal of the night for the reunited French side on the hour mark against a Rest of the World team.

Emilio Butragueno had given the international select the lead in the 25th minute before Zidane’s leveller.

Pedro Pauleta made it 2-1 to the world team before Ludovic Giuly equalised for France.

Croatia’s Davor Suker and Bernard Diomede both scored in the last minute to ensure a 3-3 draw in front of a 75,000 crowd who also saw the World Cup trophy arrive by helicopter.

Aime Jacquet, who coached the 1998 World Cup winners, admitted that the evening had been overshadowed by the death of the 10-year-old fan who was born in the Cup-winning year.

A minute’s silence was held in the youngster’s honour.

“It’s a catastrophe,” said Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF).

Arsenal Nike 2008-09 Away Kit / Jersey

Arsenal today revealed its away kit for the 2008/09 season, which is based on the iconic kit worn when the Club won the League Championship in dramatic style in 1989.

The kit sees a return to a yellow and blue shirt, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Club winning the League in the last match of the season at Anfield on 26th May 1989. To mark this special occasion, current Arsenal stars lined up for the promotional photoshoot alongside legends from that great night including goalscorers Alan Smith and Michael Thomas.

Produced by manufacturers Nike, the kit features a yellow and blue shirt with a red stripe down the sleeves and body. ‘Gunners’ is stamped on the neck and, as with the new Arsenal home shirt, this kit brings a welcome return to the Club’s motto ‘Victory through Harmony’ from the Latin inscription ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’, which is included in the inside neck of the shirt. The kit is made from Nike Dri-Fit, an innovative technology that enhances player performance by drawing sweat away from the body through to the fabric’s surface to evaporate, while its three-dimensional construction allows for more air space around the skin to reduce clinging.