TRIBUTE

Last updated : 13 May 2003 By editor

"Laurent is a very close friend to me who always helped me, he is an honest man and a faithful friend who always gives you advice and truly thinks what he says,'' Barthez told L'Equipe.

"He is also a discrete man, not the kind of guy to make his show when he scores a goal, however he is impressive on a pitch. Everything looks easy when you look at him.''

"It's been 10 years of total trust during which thanks to him I have become what I am today,'' said Barthez of the man whose stature in the dressing room of Les Bleus earned him the nickname 'Le President'.

Blanc was part of the four-man 'Invincible' defensive unit with Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu that never lost a match in 27 appearances together for France.

Blanc, who in the 1998 campaign scored the World Cup's first ever golden goal against Paraguay in the last 16 match at Lens.