Anelka and her exit from the 98 World Cup: “That's how I get my driving license”

Nicolas Anelka is back in fashion. From his home in Dubai and thanks to Netflix, the forward has recorded a documentary reviewing his football career. One, at least, different. Under the title “Anelka, the nonconformist”, the Frenchman with luxury guests (Henry, Vieira, Petit, Pirés, etc) reviews his career.

If his departure from PSG was already sounded (“He was the first player to send PSG to hell,” says Benachour, a former club member.), his departure to Real Madrid from Arsenal was no less so. With the national team, the World Cup in South Africa was one of his most complicated moments but in Clariefontaine, where she was trained since she was 13 years old, had a first experience with the absolute that marked her and showed that her personality was different.

Anelka was only 19 years old but she already stood out in a powerful Arsenal (League and FA Cup champions). Thus, he entered Jacquet's pre-list for the 98 World Cup. The coach had to make several discards and Anelka was among them. This is how the forward tells how his departure was in the preview of a triumphant summer for les bleus. “In the national team there were always some buts. I felt that something was not going well. I was with Thierry (Henry) in the room and they asked me to come down. I went to the coach's room. He was the second or third to arrive. He explained to each of us why (of its definitive exclusion from the list). “You? It's normal” he said and went on to the next one. I don't know if he was conscious. That can destroy the career of a kid of that age who was not mentally strong, “says the French striker who the day before described as” disappointment “if this moment happened.

Thus, he packed his things and went home. Pirés, who did stay, was relaxed playing ping pong when he came across an Anelka who was leaving with her luggage and she wanted to be interested in him. Waiting for a heartbroken child, she found the opposite. “We were playing ping pong and we saw that he was leaving with the suitcases. He was calm, very relaxed and he said: “It doesn't matter, so I'll have time to get my driving license”. “This guy is crazy”, I thought. It left me stunned and I realized that I was someone totally different, “says the former Arsenal or Villarreal among others.

As he explained before, on his arrival at Arsenal, Anelka had Patrick Vieira as a 'guide' but also as a driver. “He did not have a driver's license and had to always pick him up. I tried to help you. When you go out to play outside of France, at first you are disoriented “, says the current Nice coach.