Franck Ribéry’s 2006 World Cup breakout retold in 9 juillet 2006 | OneFootball

A new L'Équipe documentary, 9 juillet 2006, revisits the 2006 World Cup and the rise of Franck Ribéry, then 23 and the youngest player on the pitch in the final against Italy.

Having climbed from National through FC Metz and Galatasaray to become a leading figure at Marseille, Ribéry was picked in the 23 despite never having been capped. By Raymond Domenech’s own admission he was the last name added, yet a strong first season, three D1 player of the month awards, a goal of the season against Nantes and eye-catching France Under-21 displays made the call logical.

Three lively substitute outings in the pre-tournament friendlies against Mexico, Denmark and China strengthened his case. During the World Cup he started the opening match against China but looked subdued, sat out the meeting with South Korea, then returned against Togo to set up Patrick Vieira.

Growing in confidence, he became the squad’s mascot. Thierry Henry was taken with him from his very first cap, describing a fearless, disruptive forward who felt as if he had been around for years and who defenders dread. Zinedine Zidane, Ribéry’s long-time idol, quickly took him under his wing.

His signature moment came in the round of 16 against Spain, when he rounded Iker Casillas in the 40th minute to equalise after France had fallen 1-0 behind. An unfortunate starter in the final, Ribéry’s tournament nonetheless lit the fuse for his career. A proposed switch to Lyon soon after fell through, and a year later he joined Bayern Munich, where he became an icon and shaped the complex story that followed.

Source: L'Équipe