Youri Djorkaeff was a key member of the French squad that won the World Cup on home soil in 1998, and one of the best midfielders of his generation. In this wide-ranging interview, filmed just before FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, he first looked back on a glittering, globe-trotting career that took him to two World Cups and saw him light up stadiums on both sides of the Atlantic. In the second half of the conversation, he turned his attention to the forthcoming tournament, giving his views on the sides to watch and some of the surprises he thought might be in store at the first ever winter World Cup.
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Part 1: Djorkaeff's career
In the first half of his interview for the Aspire Academy Global Summit, Djorkaeff looked back on his playing career, from his early days at AS Monaco under Arsène Wenger to turning his schoolboy dreams into reality when he won the 1998 World Cup with France. He also reflected on the way that triumph inspired the generation of French players that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Part 2: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
The second part of Djorkaeff's appearance was dedicated to the World Cup in Qatar, which kicked off shortly after the Summit. He talked at length about the unique challenges of playing a World Cup in December and how coaches might approach their preparation, as well as the potential impact of technology on the tournament. He also predicted how some of the big nations might fare. How accurate was his crystal ball?
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