FRANCE 98 – Belgium-Mexico – E. Scifo: “I'm happy to have played, but the disappointment of this draw is stronger still”

“I’m happy to have played, but the disappointment of this draw is stronger still. It was easier for us when the Mexicans were reduced to ten men. But the heat is not an excuse, it was the same for both teams. At the end, the Mexicans played better than we did. We are disappointed because we were leading 2 – 0, and we ended up with a draw. Our aim was not to lose. Personally, I was very well prepared, and I wasn’t nervous at all. After twenty minutes of play, some of the players complained about the heat, but after our first goal, I thought they would forget it, and things would get better. We could have avoided the red cards. Too many cards are being given in general, and it inhibits the players. For instance, at one point, I committed a slight foul, and I was afraid I would get a card”.

“We suffered from the heat, more even than four years ago in the UNITED STATES, especially since the temperature has changed very quickly in just one week. But I think the Mexicans suffered as much as us. I’m disappointed with the result, because we were leading 2 – 0, and we had one player more than the Mexicans. The fact that we didn’t win shows that we are not the strongest. We took advantage of the Mexican being sent off to lead, and I think the turning point of the match was the penalty and VERHEYEN’s (18) red card. MEXICO are a great team and they deserved the draw”.

“This was a very difficult match. It wore me out a lot. At the beginning of the match, I weighed 92 kg, and only 87 kg by the end. It was the most physically demanding match of my career. I couldn’t breathe, it was so airless. My first goal was similar to the one I could have scored against the NETHERLANDS in the first match of this World Cup. The ball came to me, and I couldn’t take it on my head or my foot, so I used my stomach. The second goal was much more difficult. Then we had two chances to make it 3-0, but we didn’t score, and the Mexicans managed to equalise 2 – 2”.