Lionel Charbonnier knows what it is like to take part in a global showpiece event.
As third-choice goalkeeper for the victorious hosts at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France the former Auxerre, Rangers and FC Sion keeper experienced first-hand the drama of the world's greatest football show.
Now, 10 years on, and in a very different environment, Charbonnier has earned himself the chance to take on the world in a different capacity.
As coach of host nation Tahiti going into the Oceania U-20 Championship in December, he was confident, but wary.
No Oceania island nation had ever qualified for a FIFA field football event, and New Zealand were, understandably, clear favourites to make it through to Egypt 2009.
After all, their senior side had advanced to an Asian play-off for South Africa 2010, their U-23 team had secured Oceania's Olympic berth earlier in the year, and their women's sides had recently acquitted themselves excellently in the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women's World Cups.
It looked like being business as usual when the Kiwis, under Stu Jacobs, brushed aside Fiji 3-0 in their opening fixture, while the hosts could only draw 0-0 with their Francophone neighbours New Caledonia.
Yet the defining match of the competition was to be the encounter between the hosts and the favourites on the second matchday.
New Zealand started well enough, with Wellington Phoenix striker Costa Barbarouses putting the Kiwi youngsters in front after 23 minutes.
But just before half-time, a glimmer of hope for Charbonnier's men: New Zealand midfielder Adam McGeorge was shown a straight red card.
On 66 minutes, Garry Rochette brought the hosts level with a breathtaking goal, a low 30-yard missile that fizzed into the top corner.
Tahiti had their tails up, and Ariihau Teriitau sparked wild celebrations by bundling home the winner from a corner in the 89th minute. Charbonnier dedicated the victory to "the team's biggest fan", the 23-year-old sister of squad member Stephane Faatiarau, who had died only two days before the start of the event. The final matchday was tense. New Caledonia had beaten Fiji 3-0, and topped the standings on goal difference from the hosts.
To progress to Egypt, Tahiti would have to beat Fiji while hoping that the Caledonians would slip up against a demoralized New Zealand.
With the matches taking place concurrently, Tahiti started off well enough, going into the lead after 10 minutes.
Yet New Caledonia took the lead against New Zealand as well, and Charbonnier, keeping track of the score at the Stade Paea, was left with nerves jangling.
New Zealand equalised, New Caledonia went into the lead once more ... and finally the Kiwis secured a 2-2 draw by equalising in the 73rd minute.
In the meantime, Tahiti had put another goal past Fiji, without reply. The hosts were through!
"Winning the championship is incredible, both for us and the people of Tahiti, who can now be confident in the quality of our youth players," Charbonnier said.
"We were ranked at 187 in the latest FIFA ranking and now we have qualified with the 20 best teams in the world for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. I am so proud of the team."
Charbonnier partly ascribes his team's success to their innovative participation in Tahiti's national league.
"It's the first time an age group team has played in the competition, and we plan on playing to the end and getting good experience.
"We have a lot to learn from playing with these senior teams."
New Zealand's Stu Jacobs, meanwhile, was left marvelling at the progress made by the two Francophone nations.
"It's a wake-up call for this group and perhaps the organisation too," Jacobs observed.
"You look at Tahiti and New Caledonia and they are both very good technically and have tremendous pace.
"They are now very formidable sides who have been playing together for a long time.
"We can't take anything for granted."
What people said on www.fijitimes.com.fj
On soccer being a national shame:
* Sella of Fiji says, "Boot the president and the managemnent. Running a sports entity is not like running business, you are managing human beings.
* Elvin of Canada says, "there's so much shame and ridicule aimed at the Fiji FA that any person with even a cent of dignity would have quit by now ... but wait there's, sniff sniff, money and perks involved.
* Ravi of Fiji says, Rajesh Patel must be joking. Other teams from Oceania are catching up. What is Fiji doing then? C'mon jerks just leave office. So much humiliation and yet you are in the office. No self-respect at all. Shameful.
* Mojo of Fiji says, "Catching up? Are you blind Mr Patel? Can't you see that Oceania has not only caught up with Fiji left Fiji for the dead.
* Ratu Semi Kuboutawa Maisala Meo of Natewa Bay says, "have the soccer teams toughen up in specifically tailored boot camp at any of the military camp. That's instill a bit of muscle and guts". May be time ask uncle Khan and his personal cheer squad to move aside and get in Col or Major so and so that'll be the beginning of militarising our sports, may just benefit all of us in the long haul. It may then increase Fiji-Indian recruitment into our defence forces".
* Maxd of Fiji says, "The problem with Fiji soccer is that even the district administrators have become a party to the manipulative agendas by the dictator Sahu Khan. For them local tournaments are a money making machine. To prove my point, you just have to see how districts recruit soccer players.
* Donald Singh of New Zealand says, "The issue is the criteria of picking national coaches and the FFA constitution for election of the president and most important, how the national side is managed."
* Critic of Fiji says, "Vinaka Fiji Times for highlighting this issue. As James Datta says " in a big way"
* Ranger of Fiji says, "Finally, someone from the media has laid it out. An in your face view of the situation of Fiji soccer. I hope that this momentum doesn't get lost."
* Tevita Bolea says, "I for one will be boycotting all the games from now on until Sahu Khan steps down.
* Satish of US says, "I think Sahu Khan should leave the control of the governing soccer body to some more intelligent people who are capable. Retire doc and make way for upcoming youngsters.
OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 Final Standings
P W D L GF GA GD PTS
Tahiti 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7
New Caledonia 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
New Zealand 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4
Fiji 3 0 0 3 0 8 -8 0
