FRANCE 98 – Marcello Lippi: “The two South American squads are favoured to win the final”

Statements made at the Cité des Sciences de PARIS, Wednesday 1 July.

“I’m very happy because Friday, 3 July we will be able to watch true champions on the pitch during the FRANCE-ITALY match. I know practically all of the players on both teams and I can tell you that they’re all champions, both on the pitch and in life. To me, a FRANCE-ITALY match should be a final on 12 July. I’ve seen some great matches on television in this World Cup, evidence that football is constantly getting better. However, the same teams always qualify for the final round of competition: BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, ITALY, GERMANY. No one team has particularly impressed me, but I’d say that the two South American squads are favoured to win the final”.