Lens’ historic 1998 win at wembley: warmuz recalls the magic moment
On November 25, 1998, Lens etched their name into football history by becoming the first French club to triumph at Wembley against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. Two decades later, goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz reflects on that unforgettable night when the Sang et Or defied the odds under the iconic twin towers of the English stadium.
a moment of footballing destiny
Guillaume Warmuz, now 55, was at the heart of that legendary encounter. As he steps back into the memory, his voice still carries the same awe that gripped the entire team when they realized they were about to face one of England’s finest sides on its home turf.
« From the moment we arrived in London, we felt the weight of the moment, but also the privilege of playing at Wembley, » Warmuz recalls. « We had just won the French league title, and this match was the ultimate reward. The pressure was real, but so was the excitement. We were determined to give our all without any regrets. »
the tactical gamble that paid off
The Lens side, coached by Daniel Leclercq, adopted an audacious strategy that would become the blueprint for their victory. Warmuz explains: « We decided to split the team into two distinct blocks, with five players in defense and five in attack. It was a high-risk approach, especially against a team like Arsenal, but it worked perfectly. »
The defensive line shifted from a traditional three-man setup to four defenders, playing higher up the pitch. Warmuz, usually accustomed to a more compact defensive structure, had to adapt quickly. « I had to be more proactive, stepping out of my goal to intercept passes and cut off runs from players like Nicolas Anelka and Marc Overmars. It was a different style of play for me, but it was necessary to neutralize their threats. »
the first half: a baptism of fire
The opening minutes set the tone for the match. Arsenal, the reigning English champions, started strongly, and Lens found themselves under immediate pressure. « Within the first three minutes, we nearly conceded, » Warmuz admits. « A cross reached Christopher Wreh, who controlled it poorly and missed a golden opportunity. That was our wake-up call—this was going to be a serious battle. »
The Sang et Or responded with aggression. Warmuz made a crucial intervention in the sixth minute, rushing out to deny Overmars in a one-on-one situation. « I had to be sharp, and I was. I anticipated his run perfectly and secured the ball before he could get a shot off. »
The tension escalated as both teams traded blows. Arsenal’s Anelka nearly broke through the defensive line in the 31st minute, but Warmuz reacted with lightning speed. « He had me beat, but I managed to anticipate his move and make a sliding tackle to win the ball. If he had pushed it just a little further, we would have been in serious trouble. »
halftime adjustments and renewed intensity
At the break, the score remained 0-0, but the game had been far from dull. Daniel Leclercq used the interval to fine-tune the team’s approach. « He told us we were playing well but needed to tighten up our lines, » Warmuz explains. « We were spreading out too much, and that’s when Anelka and others exploited the gaps. »
Warmuz remembers the atmosphere in the locker room as calm but charged with energy. « Everyone was still buzzing. We knew we had to push forward, but we also had to stay disciplined. » Meanwhile, across the corridor, the Arsenal players were receiving a different kind of pep talk from their manager. « Later, we found out that Arsène Wenger had given them a dressing down. They were furious and determined to turn the game around. »
the second half: seizing the moment
The second half saw Lens take control. Their high-pressing game began to wear down the Arsenal defense, and the breakthrough finally came in the 73rd minute. « We lost the ball in a promising counterattack, and Tony Vairelles won it back with aggression. He played it to Wagneau Éloi, who then found Vladimir Smicer on the left flank. Smicer’s cross reached Mickaël Debève at the far post, and he slotted it home. »
The goal sent shockwaves through the stadium. Warmuz describes the moment as surreal: « There was collective joy, but it was controlled. We knew we still had 25 minutes to go, and Wembley was a cauldron of emotion. We couldn’t afford to lose our composure. »
The final stages of the match were intense. Arsenal, now desperate for an equalizer, resorted to long balls and physical challenges. Warmuz, in a state of hypervigilance, made one last crucial save in the 89th minute when Overmars broke free. « He tried to chip me, but I reacted just in time. It was the last real threat of the game. »
the aftermath: a night to remember
When the final whistle blew, the emotions overwhelmed the players. « I consider this match the pinnacle of my career, » Warmuz admits. « I didn’t make a single technical or tactical error. I stayed focused throughout, and we didn’t concede. That night at Wembley was pure magic. »
As the team left the pitch, Warmuz lingered, soaking in the atmosphere. « I walked back to the dressing room slowly, savoring every second. When I finally stepped onto the pitch alone, the floodlights were dimming one by one. The fog rolled in, and I stood there, all by myself in Wembley. It felt like a scene from a movie. »
In the quiet of the emptying stadium, Warmuz took a moment to reflect. « I sat down on the front row of the stands, just taking it all in. It was unreal. For a kid from Blanzy in Burgundy, this was something I could never have imagined. » He pauses, then adds with a smile: « And not only did I win at Wembley, but I was the first to do it. »
