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Do you remember France 1998? For those of us who were around before The Simpsons even aired, it’s a sobering thought that some younger football fans might not.

And what a spectacle they missed! From the ecstatic reactions of Dutch commentators to Romania’s unified decision to go blonde, and even Frank Skinner’s infamous custard incident – the tournament had it all.

Of course, there was some breathtaking football too, and you can explore it all through the links below...

Bonjour! France returns from its World Cup exileThe sixteenth edition of the World Cup was staged on a scale far greater than any before. France 1998 delivered all the intensity, drama, and emotion that make the tournament one of the greatest sporting events on earth. Nick Moore reflects on what many consider the finest World Cup in modern memory.

"You might as well play Brazil, score a goal, dye your hair, and then get sent off!"Scotland’s last World Cup outing was full of drama, even if it didn’t end in glory. FFT’s Nick Moore sits down with Craig Burley, who found himself in the spotlight more than most in Craig Brown’s squad...

The Top 10 Players of France 98Jonathan Wilson reviews the icons who lit up the French summer. Does Scotland’s Craig Burley make the cut? The answer: no.

The most politically charged game in World Cup historyNeil Billingham recounts how one group-stage clash at the 1998 World Cup achieved more for international relations than years of diplomacy ever could.

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England vs Argentina – War without the bulletsStunning goals, dramatic red cards, penalty shoot-out heartbreak, even a cameo from Mick Jagger: the England–Argentina clash had it all. Paul Simpson hears from those who lived through it...

Allez Les Bleus – The Multicultural Rainbow WarriorsThe remarkable story of how a divided France came together behind its victorious team, helped along by Jacques Chirac, Gloria Gaynor, and a certain Zinedine Zidane...

What struck Ronaldo before the final?To this day, no one truly knows what happened to Ronaldo before the 1998 World Cup final. That hasn’t stopped the rumours – from wild conspiracy theories to political speculation and teammates’ testimonies...

"As a child, I dreamed of winning the Golden Boot – France 98 made that dream come true"While the world expected Brazil’s Ronaldo or Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta to claim the Golden Boot, it was instead won by a player from a nation that had only become independent seven years earlier. FFT speaks with Croatia’s hero Davor Suker...

What happened next for the champions?For the first time in five tournaments, the host nation lifted the trophy – but what became of France’s Rainbow Warriors afterward?