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Arsenal and Newcastle face each other in the English League Cup this Wednesday evening and it was during a clash against the Magpies at Highbury that Robert Pirès suffered a terrible injury which caused him to miss the 2022 World Cup.
Deprived of Zinédine Zidane, victim of a muscle injury a few days before the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, would the French team, world champion 98, have done better at the Asian World Cup with Robert Pirès in number 10 ? The attacking midfielder revealed at FC Metz, 98 world champion and decisive passer on David Trezeguet’s golden goal during the Euro 2000 final against Italy, had seriously injured his knee, while he was at the top of his game, scoring 15 goals in all competitions and even 16 assists that season!
It was on March 23, 2002 that Pirès’ career took a big blow, at the age of 28, during an FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle. Arsène Wenger’s left midfielder opened the scoring from the start, well served by Dennis Bergkamp, before being the decisive passer for the Dutch genius seven minutes later. Untenable on the Highbury pitch, the former Marseillais then avoided a tackle from a Magpies defender to secure a corner for the Gunners. The reception is poor. This is the tragedy. Seeing the suffering of the native of Reims, a serious injury was feared at the time.
Robert Pirès: “you have to be a philosopher”
Two days later, Robert Pirès came to Clairefontaine to announce his rupture of an anterior cruciate ligament. “I’m not going to cry about my fate. That’s how it is. There are times when you have to be philosophical. Until now, I had been spared injuries”launched the player, as reported The World. He did not hide behind the hellish sequence of matches for Arsenal, explaining as follows: “When I jump, I’m not ready to land. I’m not strong enough in my head. There is a moment of inattention ».
At the other end of Eurasia, in Seoul, Roger Lemerre’s Blues fell in the opening match against Senegal (0-1), on a goal from Papa Bouba Diop. Youri Djorkaeff, 34, then at Bolton, played behind David Trezeguet. Six days later, it was Johan Micoud who was lined up at number 10, but Thierry Henry left his teammates at 10 in the 25th minute and the reigning world champions only drew 0-0. On June 11, 2002, finally, with a diminished “Zizou”, France was eliminated in the first round, losing to Denmark (2-0).
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
