I think the real reason the French won in 1998 is because they were the greatest side of modern times. They passed the ball better than anyone else and at stunningly high speed. They always found a little bit extra flair and imagination when they were in trouble. It was not just their recognised strikers, who came up with the important goals. They also had the most prodigiously gifted footballer I have ever seen in Zidane. He could do things we saw from Pele, Zico, Cryuff and Maradonna, but much much faster. He was probably also the greatest tactician I have ever seen. He could make a defence run to the right when he had already passed a ball twenty metres to the left. He was a clever boy.
Wouldn't it be great if a team like that emerged again? I am still praying for England. Oh please God let nothing bad happen to Michael Owen or Steve Gerrard...