Just Fontaine, the French soccer great who scored a file 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, handed away. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Just Fontaine, the French soccer great who scored a file 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, has died. He was 89.
Fontaine’s former membership Reims and the French soccer federation confirmed his loss of life on Wednesday.
Fontaine took six video games to attain his feat at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when he was a last-minute inclusion on the French squad.
“Justo is, and can stay a legend of the French crew,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
Entering the World Cup tournament, the Moroccan-born Fontaine was a little-known forward outside of the French league. Yet he tormented opponents with his speed and finishing touch — and even with someone else’s boots. He had to borrow a pair of cleats after damaging his own boots in practice.
Fontaine scored four goals in the third-place game against West Germany, but could have had five if he had taken the penalty kick.
In addition to his feats with the national team, Fontaine won the French league title four times, the French Cup and reached the final of the 1959 European Cup during his club career with USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims.
After he retired, Fontaine briefly coached France’s national team and then coached Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain, Toulouse and the Moroccan national team.
The French soccer federation said tributes to Fontaine will take place across France this weekend with a “minute of homage” that will also be observed on Wednesday before French Cup games at Toulouse, Marseille and Nantes.
“The death of Just Fontaine plunges French soccer into deep emotion and immense sadness,” mentioned Philippe Diallo, the French federation’s interim president. “He was an emblematic figure, with his incredible record of 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup. He wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of the French national team.”
The highest scorer at a World Cup event is now acknowledged with the Golden Boot award. Fontaine set the file when FIFA didn’t current a particular award for the event’s high scorer.
“Beating my file? I don’t suppose it may well ever be carried out,” Fontaine advised The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. “The person who wants to beat me has a massive task, doesn’t he? He has to score two goals per game over seven games.”
Playing within the days when no substitutions had been allowed, France misplaced 5-2 within the semifinals towards a Brazil crew that includes 17-year-old Pele.
Fontaine, who scored in each match, gave France an early lead with the primary purpose Brazil allowed within the event. But at 1-1, France defender Robert Jonquet broke his leg. Amazingly, he performed on, attempting to cope with the genius of Pele, however the French protection was significantly weakened.
The males’s file for many goals scored in a World Cup profession is 16 by Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who performed in 4 tournaments. Fontaine, who broke the file of 11 goals scored by Hungary striker Sándor Kocsis at the 1954 event, solely performed at one World Cup.
Brazil striker Marta has scored 17 goals at the Women’s World Cup, taking part in in 5 tournaments.
Fontaine’s meteoric rise as a scorer noticed him get 200 goals in 213 video games. He scored 30 goals in 21 video games for France
Fontaine’s profession was dramatically reduce quick when he was solely 28. The Frenchman — famend for his lightning tempo and ruthless ending — suffered a horrendous leg fracture after a mistimed sort out in March 1960.
