My Magic Moment: Pirès on EURO 2000 final
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
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Robert Pirès reflects on the role he played in David Trezeguet's golden goal in the UEFA EURO 2000 final: "I'd told myself I wasn't going to contribute anything."
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With the countdown on to UEFA EURO 2016 in France, Robert Pirès looks back on the part he played in Les Bleus' most recent major triumph.
France were world champions going into UEFA EURO 2000 and they duly reached the final. They looked set to lose to Italy, however, and were still 1-0 down when Pirès came off the bench with only four minutes left. Sylvain Wiltord promptly equalised to force extra time, with Pirès then setting up David Trezeguet for a golden goal.
"The situation was complicated because we were 1-0 down," said Pirès. "It was strange because [coach] Roger Lemerre called me over and said that I'd come on to replace Bixente Lizarazu and play left-back. I thought it was an odd substitution and I told myself I wouldn't contribute anything. But in the end the coach was right. It was one of the greatest and most magical moments in my career."
Hear more from Pirès and watch that golden goal in the video above
