Just Fontaine, the all-time prime scorer in a single World Cup finals with 13 targets, has died aged 89, his household informed AFP on Wednesday.
Fontaine achieved the file within the 1958 finals in Sweden the place France reached the semi-finals for the primary time of their historical past, dropping to Pele’s Brazil.
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Part of an exquisite attacking trident at that World Cup alongside Roger Piantoni and Raymond Kopa, Fontaine would possibly by no means have gone to Sweden in any respect.
Only accidents to fellow forwards Thadee Cisowski and his Reims teammate Rene Bliard noticed him make the squad after which the beginning line-up.
“I’m saddened to listen to of the passing of Just Fontaine, as will probably be all those that love soccer and our nationwide crew,” France coach Didier Deschamps stated in feedback printed by the French Football Federation.
“’Justo’ is and can stay a France legend.”
Fontaine additionally received 4 French league titles, one with Nice and three with the nice Reims facet of the post-war period.
Football legend Just Fontaine has handed away at age 89. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
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He performed within the Reims crew that misplaced to the Real Madrid of Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Raymond Kopa within the 1959 European Cup remaining.
Reims paid tribute to their former star by posting an image of him within the membership’s colors throughout his taking part in profession, calling him an “everlasting legend”.
Nice, for whom Fontaine scored 52 targets in 83 matches, stated there can be a tribute to him forward of their Ligue 1 recreation in opposition to Auxerre on Friday.
Fontaine was pressured to retire in 1962 on the age of simply 28 after he suffered a double leg fracture.
He later moved into administration, lasting simply two matches in command of France in 1967 earlier than main Paris Saint-Germain to promotion to the highest division in 1974 after which teaching Morocco to 3rd place on the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
“A monument of French soccer has left us,” PSG stated in an announcement.
“It is a tragic day for all those that love Paris Saint-Germain, a membership he led into the primary division 50 years in the past.”
