At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, labelled A–H. Group C was composed of Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Denmark and host nation and eventual world champion France.
Denmark and France started well, defeating Saudi Arabia and South Africa respectively. Next, France scored four to eliminate Saudi Arabia and qualify with a match to spare, while Denmark and South Africa drew. Needing a big win in their final game, against Saudi Arabia, South Africa conceded two penalties and could only draw, so Denmark still qualified despite losing their final game to France.
Standings
France advanced to play Paraguay (runner-up of Group D) in the round of 16. Denmark advanced to play Nigeria (winner of Group D) in the round of 16.
Matches
Saudi Arabia vs Denmark
GK 1 Mohamed Al-DeayeaDF 2 Mohammed SheliahDF 3 Mohammed Al-KhilaiwiDF 4 Abdullah Sulaiman ZubromawiDF 13Hussein AbdulghaniMF 6 Fuad Anwar (c) MF 7 Ibrahim SuwayedMF 14Khaled Massad MF 16Khamis Al-OwairanFW 9 Sami Al-Jaber FW 10Saeed Al-Owairan Substitutions:MF 20Hamzah Saleh FW 8 Obeid Al-Dosari FW 15Yousuf Al-Thunayan Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 1 Peter SchmeichelDF 2 Michael SchjønbergDF 3 Marc Rieper DF 4 Jes HøghDF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 12Søren ColdingMF 10Michael Laudrup (c)MF 14Morten Wieghorst MF 21Martin Jørgensen FW 11Brian Laudrup FW 19Ebbe SandSubstitutions:MF 7 Allan Nielsen MF 8 Per Frandsen DF 5 Jan Heintze Manager: Bo Johansson Assistant referees: Claudio Rossi (Argentina) Jorge Diaz Garcia (Chile) Fourth official: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
France vs South Africa
GK 16Fabien BarthezRB 15Lilian ThuramCB 8 Marcel DesaillyCB 5 Laurent BlancLB 3 Bixente LizarazuCM 7 Didier Deschamps (c) CM 17Emmanuel Petit RW 6 Youri Djorkaeff AM 10Zinedine Zidane LW 12Thierry HenryCF 9 Stéphane Guivarc'h Substitutions:FW 21Christophe Dugarry MF 14Alain Boghossian FW 20David Trezeguet Manager:Aimé Jacquet GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David NyathiDF 4 Willem Jackson DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c)DF 21Pierre IssaMF 7 Quinton FortuneMF 10John MoshoeuFW 6 Phil MasingaFW 12Brendan Augustine FW 17Benni McCarthy Substitutions:MF 11Helman Mkhalele FW 9 Shaun Bartlett Manager: Philippe Troussier Assistant referees: Arnaldo Pinto (Brazil) Merere Gonzales (Trinidad and Tobago) Fourth official: Mario Sánchez Yanten (Chile)
South Africa vs Denmark
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David Nyathi DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c) DF 21Pierre Issa MF 7 Quinton FortuneMF 10John MoshoeuMF 11Helman MkhaleleFW 9 Shaun Bartlett FW 12Brendan Augustine FW 17Benni McCarthySubstitutions:MF 8 Alfred Phiri FW 6 Phil Masinga FW 13Delron Buckley Manager: Philippe Troussier GK 1 Peter Schmeichel DF 2 Michael Schjønberg DF 3 Marc RieperDF 4 Jes Høgh DF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 12Søren ColdingMF 7 Allan NielsenMF 10Michael Laudrup (c) MF 21Martin JørgensenFW 11Brian LaudrupFW 19Ebbe Sand Substitutions:DF 5 Jan Heintze FW 9 Miklos Molnar MF 14Morten Wieghorst Manager: Bo Johansson Assistant referees: Jorge Luis Arango (Colombia) Celestino Galván (Paraguay) Fourth official: Epifanio González (Paraguay)
France vs Saudi Arabia Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi was sent off in the 19th minute after tripping Bixente Lizarazu from behind. Zinedine Zidane was ejected at the 71st minute when he appeared to plant his studs into the side of Saudi captain Fuad Anwar after they collided going for a ball.
GK 16Fabien BarthezRB 15Lilian ThuramCB 5 Laurent Blanc CB 8 Marcel DesaillyLB 3 Bixente Lizarazu CM 7 Didier Deschamps (c)CM 14Alain BoghossianRW 12Thierry Henry AM 10Zinedine Zidane LW 13Bernard Diomède CF 21Christophe Dugarry Substitutions:FW 20David Trezeguet MF 6 Youri Djorkaeff MF 11Robert Pires Manager:Aimé Jacquet GK 1 Mohamed Al-DeayeaDF 2 Mohammed Al-Jahani DF 3 Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi DF 4 Abdullah ZubromawiDF 13Hussein AbdulghaniMF 6 Fuad Anwar (c)MF 7 Ibrahim SuwayedMF 16Khamis Al-OwairanMF 20Hamzah SalehFW 9 Sami Al-Jaber FW 10Saeed Al-Owairan Substitutions:MF 12Ibrahim Mater MF 14Khaled Massad DF 17Ahmed Al-Dokhi Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira Assistant referees: Reynaldo Salinas (Honduras) Luis Torres Zuniga (Costa Rica) Fourth official: Alberto Tejada Noriega (Peru)
France vs Denmark
GK 16Fabien BarthezDF 2 Vincent CandelaDF 8 Marcel Desailly (c)DF 18Frank LeboeufMF 4 Patrick Vieira MF 6 Youri DjorkaeffMF 11Robert Pires MF 13Bernard Diomède MF 17Emmanuel Petit MF 19Christian KarembeuFW 20David Trezeguet Substitutions:MF 14Alain Boghossian FW 12Thierry Henry FW 9 Stéphane Guivarc'h Manager:Aimé Jacquet GK 1 Peter Schmeichel DF 2 Michael Schjønberg DF 3 Marc RieperDF 4 Jes HøghDF 5 Jan HeintzeDF 6 Thomas HelvegDF 13Jacob Laursen MF 7 Allan NielsenMF 10Michael Laudrup (c)MF 21Martin Jørgensen FW 11Brian Laudrup Substitutions:DF 12Søren Colding FW 19Ebbe Sand MF 15Stig Tøfting Manager: Bo Johansson Assistant referees: Marc Van den Broeck (Belgium) Emanuel Zammit (Malta) Fourth official: Vítor Melo Pereira (Portugal)
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia
GK 1 Hans VonkDF 3 David NyathiDF 4 Willem Jackson DF 5 Mark FishDF 19Lucas Radebe (c) DF 21Pierre IssaMF 7 Quinton Fortune MF 10John MoshoeuMF 11Helman MkhaleleFW 9 Shaun BartlettFW 17Benni McCarthy Substitutions:FW 13Delron Buckley FW 14Jerry Sikhosana MF 15Doctor Khumalo Manager: Philippe Troussier GK 1 Mohamed Al-DeayeaDF 2 Mohammed Al-JahaniDF 4 Abdullah ZubromawiDF 13Hussein AbdulghaniMF 6 Fuad AnwarMF 16Khamis Al-Owairan MF 18Nawaf Al-TemyatMF 20Hamzah SalehFW 9 Sami Al-JaberFW 11Fahad Al-Mehallel FW 15Yousuf Al-Thunayan (c) Substitutions:MF 7 Ibrahim Suwayed MF 12Ibrahim Mater Manager:Mohammed Al-Kharashy Assistant referees: Owen Powell (Jamaica) Eddie Foley (Republic of Ireland) Fourth official: Alberto Tejada Noriega (Peru)
See also Denmark at the FIFA World Cup France at the FIFA World Cup Saudi Arabia at the FIFA World Cup South Africa at the FIFA World Cup
References
Match reports