Brian Laudrup may have been starring at the greatest football tournament on earth, but his nine-year-old son still wasn’t totally satisfied with his efforts.
Denmark had advanced to the quarter-finals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™ – the best campaign in their history – with Laudrup scoring in their 4-1 demolition of Nigeria in the last 16. That victory set up a last-eight showdown against Brazil and, on the eve of that clash with the reigning champions, young Nicolai made a special request to his father.
“Before the game, my son told me, ‘Dad, you’re so boring when you celebrate after the goals – come out with something,’” Laudrup later revealed.
The great Dane alighted on an idea – and went on to deliver in an exhilarating contest at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire.
A Seleção had come from behind to lead a breathless encounter 2-1 at half-time, with Bebeto and Rivaldo on target after Denmark had hit the front through Martin Jorgensen.
Five minutes after the break, Laudrup had his moment. The forward, who was renowned for his supreme technically quality, expertly chested a ball down inside the area before powering a rising drive beyond Brazil goalkeeper Taffarel.
Laudrup’s immediate reaction was to sprint towards his team-mates, clenching his fists and screaming with joy. Then came his iconic pose. Laudrup lay down on his side and nonchalantly rested his head in his left hand, as if he was settling down for a night in front of the television rather than celebrating a goal in a World Cup knockout tie.
“I was a little inspired by Roberto Di Matteo,” explained Laudrup. “I remembered watching Chelsea’s games, he scored and he lay down more or less in the same way. So, I said, ‘OK, if I score against Brazil, I will do something similar.’
“But I didn’t tell anybody! I kept it to myself. And I scored, it was a pretty nice goal. So that’s why I did such a strange thing!”
Laudrup’s superbly-taken strike brought the sides level, but the legendary Rivaldo swiftly netted his second goal of the game to give Brazil a 3-2 advantage they would not relinquish.
Soon after the match, Laudrup – then aged just 29 – stunned Danish football by announcing his international retirement. He had gone out in some style, however, and surely made son Nicolai beam with admiration.
