bᵻfˌoːɹ jˈuːfə jˈʊɹɹoʊ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, hiː wʌz kənsˈɪdɚd wˈʌn ʌvðə bˈɛst fɹˈɛntʃ mˈɪdfiːldɚz, ˌɔn pˈɑːɹ wɪð zˈaɪndiːn zˈɪdeɪn, ænd wʌz sᵻlˈɛktᵻd fɚðə tˈʊɹnəmənt.
Before UEFA Euro 1996, he was considered one of the best French midfielders, on par with Zinedine Zidane, and was selected for the tournament.