FRANCE 98 – France-Saudi Arabia – A. Jacquet: “For Saudi Arabia, survival is at stake”

Comments from Clarefontaine

Aimé JACQUET:

“After our morning off yesterday, we have picked up our preparations for our match against SAUDI-ARABIA (Group C), Thursday 18 June at the Stade de France. This match gives us a chance to maintain our momentum, but we could also trip up, so we should remain concentrated and determined, and play as well we did at MARSEILLE against SOUTH AFRICA. For SAUDIA ARABIA, survival is at stake. They are a very skilful team which prefers to lie back and leave the initiative to the opponent, making the most of the open space. They don’t have a very big track record, but in a one-off they can cause us problems. Therefore, we should be imaginative and patient and take control of the game. In our first game we showed what we were capable of and have every reason to be confident. Especially, because the news about the fitness of Stéphane GUIVARC’H (9) and David TREZEGUET (20) is definitely good. David will rejoin the group this afternoon. I realise just how keen he is to play, but I don’t want to take any risks. In any case, I won’t be announcing the team till tomorrow. Everybody should remain involved in the preparation, whether are not they will be starting the game. We have to keep them all focused: they all have to be ready to step in at any time. The main thing is to get through this second game successfully and make sure that we don’t ease off, as we did in the last five minutes of the match against SPAIN in Euro 96. Personally, I am delighted that we are playing this match at the Stade de France where the inaugural match last January against SPAIN was a big experience for us all. All the players want to play there. The conditions will be perfect, there won’t be a “mistral” this time which means that we will be able to use our technique to better advantage”.