FRANCE 98 – 14 years after, Dragan Stojkovic comes back in St Etienne

News from SAINT-ETIENNE, Saturday 13 June 1998.

Dragan STOJKOVIC (10), the Yugoslav team leader who will confront IRAN on Sunday 14 June in ST ETIENNE at 5:30 pm has already played for his country at Geoffroy-Guichard.

On exactly the same day 14 years ago, the team from the still unified YUGOSLAVIA met France in the group matches for EURO 1984.

Dragan STOJKOVIC was 18 and celebrated his first selection with a penalty goal, the second for his team. YUGOSLAVIA were leading two goals to nil when Michel PLATINI scored a hat-trick to ensure FRANCE won by three goals to two.

What affected ” Pixie” the most, more than his team’s defeat, was the fatal heart attack of Bozidar MILENKOVIC, the Yugoslav team doctor, on the side of the pitch.

14 years and 62 selections later, Dragan STOJKOVIC finds himself back again in SAINT-ETIENNE. For him: “This is a very sad memory for me, he was my friend. It’s very special for me to be able to play here again after 14 years.”

Dragan STOJKOVIC added, ” for his sake, YUGOSLAVIA will beat IRAN “.