France – D. Deschamps: “When the vitally important match against Italy comes along we won't feel the fatigue”

Statements from Clairefontaine at 13h30 on Monday 29 June

Didier DESCHAMPS (7), captain

“I expended a lot of energy during yesterday’s match. It’s true that we expected the match to be a bit easier, however in competitions at this level sometimes you just have to battle. We have five days to recover, and no matter what, when the vitally important match against ITALY comes along we won’t feel the fatigue.

The ITALY-FRANCE match (no. 57 on 3 July at the Stade de France in SAINT-DENIS) is a prestigious fixture. The Italians are real fighters and extremely professional. They have attackers who can make the difference at any time. Only one thing matters to the Italians, and that’s winning, no matter how. Seven of our players turn out in the calcio (Italian championship), which is a bonus for our team and makes us a stronger outfit. From here on in, we will no longer have an inferiority complex. The Italians are born tacticians. One player’s talent will make the difference and Zinedine ZIDANE (10) should be at his best in this match. He can’t let the high stakes influence his playing. Against ITALY we’ll need to take our chances because they’re few and far between. We need to be vigilant, especially with players like VIERI (21), who is on a roll, DEL PIERO (10), MORIERO (17) on the right flank, and DI BAGIO (14) who is staging a great comeback. Additionally, the ITALY team has a solid defence made up of excellent players.”

“It was a long night…now we need to concentrate on recovering. The goal I scored yesterday was the most important one of my career. It’s true that prior to this match I criticised the golden goal rule, but now it’s difficult for me to find anything bad to say about it…I got the distinct impression that the PARAGUAY team was waiting for the penalty shoot-out, which really bothered me. In the last five minutes, I felt that I needed to go forward to support my attackers. It was all or nothing. The most daring team won this match. I had noticed that the Paraguayan team was weak in the air and when David TREZEGUET (20) headed the ball down my first thought was to get the ball on target. When the ball hit the back of the net it felt great both for me and the boys.

From here on in we need to concentrate on the quarter-final match against ITALY. Zinedine ZIDANE’s (10) return is a good thing for him and for the team. The Italians are technically, mentally and physically very strong. We need to keep an eye on VIERI (21) and make sure that he doesn’t add to his five goals. He has to stop scoring sometime. We have absolutely no intention of changing our defensive system, so we won’t mark man-to-man.

I was very touched by the fact that Fabrizio Ravanelli (team-mate at Olympique de MARSEILLE, first division) called me before the match and then afterwards to congratulate me. After I scored, my first thoughts were of my three and a half year old son Clément, because I had promised him that I would score.”