Fabio Cannavaro Says the 1998 Loss to France Changed His Career

Fabio Cannavaro France 1998 World Cup quarterfinal, Digi Mart USA News: According to Corriere della Sera, as reported by Calciomio, Fabio Cannavaro experienced another defining match against France before he became world champion in 2006 and won the Ballon d’Or months later. On July 3, 1998, at the Stade de France, the Italian defender played in a World Cup quarterfinal that he says transformed his career.

At the time, aged 24, Cannavaro delivered a monumental performance despite a facial injury caused by an unintentional elbow from Stéphane Guivarc’h. In his words, the match marked his arrival among the elite.

“That match represented my step up to the top. I became aware of who I was and, above all, of what I could become,” Cannavaro says.

“Despite the immense disappointment that evening, I felt like a young man who had succeeded. My career had truly begun.”

Italy and France played to a 0-0 draw after extra time. The golden goal rule was still in force at the time.

Cannavaro recalls two images from the game: Roberto Baggio’s volley, which narrowly missed the target, and the reaction of Lilian Thuram, who was aware of the danger. Italy ultimately lost the penalty shootout 3-4, and France went on to win the tournament.

Twenty-eight years later, Cannavaro is coach of Uzbekistan, an adventure he considers the most beautiful of his life. “I won a tournament as prestigious as this one, and fate decided it would be against France, but from a completely different perspective than a coach’s, who carries an enormous collective responsibility.”

Cannavaro says his 2006 Ballon d’Or remains an exceptional memory, though he acknowledges an element of luck. “If Zidane had not headbutted Materazzi, who knows…”

At 53, the former Italy captain still hopes to return to the national team one day. He believes Roberto Mancini is the right person to revive the side and expressed regret over how Andrea Pirlo was treated: “Andrea is a heritage of Italian football.”

For Cannavaro, the lesson of France 1998 remains intact: talent is not enough, and courage, personality and a hunger to win that cannot be bought are also required.