5 Highlights from Nicolas Anelka's International Career with France
Saturday March 14 marks the 36th birthday of the former France and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka. His career spanned 12 clubs in seven different countries and he lifted four different league titles.
However, Anelka's career will mostly be remembered for the controversial moments. No one in France will ever forget his bust-up with Raymond Domenech which ignited Les Bleus' demise at the 2010 World Cup.
It is always better to try to remember the good times, though, and although rightly placed behind Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet from that generation, Anelka certainly still played his part.
Here are Nicolas Anelka's five best moments for the France national team.
Winning 1996 U19 European Championships
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Before France saw success in the 1998 World Cup, the foundations were laid down by the under-19 squad led by Gerard Houllier.
David Trezeguet would be the hero, scoring three times in the group stage and then the only goal as France beat Spain 1-0 in the final.
Anelka would play beside Thierry Henry, Didier Domi, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, but he needed to wait until after France '98 before becoming a regular member of the national team.
First Goal for France vs. Russia
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It was during the qualification for Euro 2000 that Anelka would score his first-ever goal for France. Starting against Russia back in 1998, he opened the scoring, sparking France to a crucial 3-2 away win.
The young striker was released down the left channel by Zinedine Zidane, and the forward applied the perfect first-time finish to give Les Bleus the lead.
Later in the first half, Anelka would turn provider; his low cross from the left was knocked in by Youri Djorkaeff at the back post.
Double Against England at Wembley
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Anelka would have to wait four months for his next goals for France, but they would be worth waiting for.
The World Champions took on England at Wembley in February 1999, and it was an inspired Anelka performance that proved the difference.
A stunning shot in the second-half crashed off the underside of the bar, which looked like it had crossed the line, but nothing was given. It wouldn’t take the striker long to make his mark.
Zidane played a lovely ball over the top of the English defence, and Anelka was on to it in a flash, providing the confident finish.
His and France’s second came after some lovely interplay between Zidane and Christophe Dugarry down the left. The former Birmingham City forward played in the low cross and Anelka slid in to knock the ball into the net.
Crucial Goal in Play-off Against Ireland
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The two-leg playoff between France and Ireland will always be remembered for Henry’s handball in the second-leg, with few people remembering that it was Anelka’s goal that gave France a 1-0 win in Croke Park.
That goal helped France qualify for the 2010 World Cup, his shot did take a deflection off Sean St. Ledger, but it was his last ever goal for Les Bleus and was the last positive influence the forward would have on the national team.
Little did Anelka or France know about the collapse that would follow.
Assist Against Portugal at Euro 2000
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For someone that made his name as a goalscorer, it is quite fitting that Anelka’s best moment in a France shirt came as an assist, but it is a memory that is worth its weight in gold.
With France 1-0 down to Portugal in the semi-final of Euro 2000, they needed players to step up and pull Les Bleus back into the game.
Henry would score the equalising goal, but it was Anelka that helped make it happen. Lilian Thuram played in the forward down the right channel, Anelka took the ball, cut back onto his left-foot and found Henry free inside the box.
The former Arsenal man took a touch and hit his shot on the turn, it was a difficult chance, but it found the far corner.
History will show that Zidane’s 117th-minute penalty won France the game, but let’s not hide the part that Anelka played in France’s history.
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