Ben Saada, Le Tallec, generation 84

Nineteen years after their title of U17 world champion in 2001, the two attackers of SC Bastia and FC Annecy still have the flame of football.

SC Bastia and FC Annecy do not follow the same trajectories this season in National. The first fights for the climb, the second fights for the maintenance. The meeting of these two opposing wishes, last Friday in Haute-Savoie during the 16th day of the championship, ended with a draw (1-1) snatched in the last minutes by the Corsicans.

The careers of Chaouki Ben Saada and Anthony Le Tallec also followed very different paths before leading them respectively to Bastia and Annecy. But they have the same date and the same starting point: September 30, 2001 in Port-of-Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago. And above all, the same founding event: a U17 world champion title won in the final against Nigeria (3-0) on the lawn of Hasely Crawford Stadium!

Nineteen years later, the memory of this victory remains engraved in them and still constitutes the hyphen of this golden generation 84, of which Chaouki Ben Saada and Anthony Le Tallec are both 36 years old. , the last members still active at the high level. This memory brought them together again the other evening, on the occasion of this Annecy-Bastia placed for the two former French teammates under the sign of the pleasure of reunion.

Photo Jean-Paul Giacobbi / SC Bastia

“We follow each other on social networks”
“It’s very nice to see each other again, for sure, we don’t see each other often. It was an opportunity to hear from our families and talk about the championship”, they proclaim in chorus. “Anthony is a good friend, I follow him regularly on Instagram, he is very active”, says the Bastiais. “Chaouki is someone I appreciate, confirms the Annecy, but I did not wish him good luck before the match anyway!” Perfect one-two, like back then.

“We especially told ourselves that we are no longer very young, it is starting to be a little hard, laughs Ben Saada. Lthe others all quit, I think, we followed each other in the newspapers and now on social networks, like Jacques (Faty) and Mourad (Meghni). They remained friends. “ After the selection of young people, until Hopes for some, the roads separated, towards various destinies. “But most of them have made their way into football, like Stéphen (Drouin), Hassan (Yebda), It emerged (Faé), Florent (Sinama-Pongolle) oru Jérémy Berthod with whom I played in Auxerre. I kept in touch with them “, says Le Tallec.

We made history

Anthony Le Tallec

“So far, so close”
So many names that quickly reappear the images of this U17 World Cup raised together. “It was a long time ago, it’s old, s’amuse Ben Saada, but the images are anchored in my memory. Especially when the referee whistles the end of the final. We are proud to have won a great competition which launched us into the deep end and brought recognition. I put this memory in the top 5 of my career with my participations in the 2005 Confederations Cup and the 2006 World Cup with Tunisia *, and the two climbs in Ligue 1 with Troyes (2015, 2017). I kept the mini-replica of the trophy, my medal and a jersey. “

These relics from the past and the triumph of 2001 also feature prominently in Anthony Le Tallec. “I must have a jersey with my parents but the trophy and the best passer’s cup are on my desk, I see them every day, admits the former U17 scorer (three goals in the final phase, including one in the final). It is both very far and very close. It was an absolutely amazing adventure, with a great group. We were 17, we represented our country and we won. it was fantastic. I have so many memories in me, the final, the referee’s whistle, the coronation. Everything falls, all the pressure, we all find ourselves together on the pitch. We made history, no other generation has won this competition. It’s in my top 3. I was 1000% involved, I played every match, with Florent (golden shoe with 9 goals) we formed an infernal duo. Chaouki was the third striker, he couldn’t express himself as he wanted, but he was in the squad and brought his good humor. He was doing magic tricks on us, I remember well. “

Photo Maxime Mathieu / FC Annecy

“Always the same passion”
Last Friday, Ben Saada cracked another magic trick by equalizing for Bastia in the 90th minute with a masterful free kick with his left foot into the skylight of the Annecy cage. His second goal of the season. In August 2019, the Tunisian joined his training club SCB, then in National 2. To complete the loop. Retirement, retraining? “I want to pass my diplomas to become an educator and take care of young people, he confides. But not right now ! The passion for football is intact and I still want to be on the field, to play. I have the chance to evolve in a club surrounded by a real enthusiasm, with a project that I want to help achieve. This is my city, the club of my heart, where I did all my classes from 5 to 24 years old. “

The same passion also continues to animate his friend from Haut-Savoyard, who arrived at FCA in September 2019, the twelfth club ** in a career that saw him glean a Champions League (Liverpool, 2005) and a Coupe de France. (Sochaux, 2007). “Football is my whole life, it’s what keeps me alive, assures Anthony Le Tallec. I want to play for a long time. FC Annecy offered me a three-year contract. At 35, it’s not given to all players. It is a sign of confidence. I’m very happy to be here and to bring my experience to this team. We got the climb last year, this season is more difficult. Later ? I can see myself as a specific trainer for attackers, then sporting director or even club president. “

By then, the trajectories of Chaouki Ben Saada and Anthony Le Tallec will have followed those of their respective clubs. Until the next reunion, on April 30, at the Furiani stadium for the return match between SC Bastia and FC Annecy. Twenty years after the 2001 U17 World Cup …

* Chaouki Ben Saada chose Tunisian nationality in 2005. He has 40 selections with Tunisia.
** Le Havre AC, FC Liverpool, Le Havre AC, Sunderland, AS Saint-Etienne, FC Sochaux, Le Mans UC, AJ Auxerre, Valenciennes FC, Atromitos FC (Greece), Astra Giurgiu (Romania), US Orléans, FC Annecy .

Anthony Le Tallec (left) and Chaouki Ben Saada (right) surround Emerse Faé, in September 2001 (Photo Yann Perrin / FFF)