He was present in the World Cup for France and scored only one World Cup goal. But a World Cup football history cannot be told without him.
Paris, First Published Aug 23, 2022, 2:56 PM IST
Sometimes we see some people who are more impressive than the players on the field. In 1998, when the French won a World Cup on home soil as hosts France, there was a Frenchman on the sidelines with players including Zinedine Zidane. Age 90!
He was present in the World Cup for France and scored only one World Cup goal. But a World Cup football history cannot be told without him. Frenchman Lucien Laurent is the owner of the first goal in the first World Cup in 1930. Lucien Laurent, the only living member of the French team that played in the first World Cup, was lucky enough to witness it when France won the World Cup for the first time in 68 years.
In the first World Cup in 1930, there were only a thousand spectators when France and Mexico kicked the ball in the first match on July 13. Laurent made history in the 19th minute when he volleyed a cross from winger Ernest Libertari from outside the penalty area past Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Bonfigillo. France won that day 4-1 but had to go home after losing the next 2 matches against Argentina and Chile.
In the match against Argentina, due to Luis Monti’s heavy foul, Laurent was injured and could not play against Chile. A series of injuries forced Laurent to sit out the second World Cup in Italy in 1934. Laurent, who played only 10 matches for France, scored his second career goal in 1931 when France beat England 5-2.
After a two-week sailing trip to Uruguay for the first World Cup, the French team included Lucien Laurent and his older brother Jean Laurent. But the brother did not get a chance to play a single match. Laurent, who retired from his career in 1946, continued to play football until he was 86 years old, at least in a small way. For a man who played in the first World Cup in 1930, after 68 years, at the age of 89, it was better to watch his team beat Brazil, the most famous in world football, 3-0 and win the title. What more luck do you need??
Last Updated Aug 23, 2022, 2:56 PM IST
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