Guy Stéphan remembers San Siro: Brandao's goal and qualification for the quarter-finals

Speaking to Eurosport, Guy Stéphan, assistant to Didier Deschamps, recalled two moments that marked his career, both linked to unexpected results. The first takes us directly to San Siro, the venue for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 between Inter and Olympique Marseille.

“I have two wonderful memories from that period. The first is the second leg of the Champions League round of 16: Inter-OM, with that improbable goal by Brandao that qualified us for the quarterfinals. We had won the first leg at the Vélodrome (1-0, goal by André Ayew). The return match was tough; we were under pressure. And then there was that long clearance that landed slightly on Brandao’s back, allowing him to control the ball precisely. With a left-footed shot, he scored.”

Stéphan also recalled the frantic ending of that night: “After the match, Inter were awarded a penalty, with the sending off of Steve Mandanda, but it didn’t matter.” The Nerazzurri, then coached by Claudio Ranieri, won 2-1 but it wasn’t enough to continue in the tournament. “We qualified there, with the San Siro crowd roaring; you could feel the pressure. But, of course, when we scored, it definitely calmed them down.”

The second memory mentioned by Stéphan concerns France’s triumph in the Nations League in 2021, when the French beat Spain in the final. “We won 2-1, with a three-man defense, Pogba, Griezmann… It came after a somewhat disappointing Euro 2020, where we were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16, on penalties. Three months later, we managed to get back on track.”