FRANCE 98 – News Flash Template
Marseille, 4 December 1997
Transcript from the FRANCE 98 Chat with Andres Cantor
Sergiop: Andres, are you preparing or training your voice to withstand all the games and Goooooaals! that you will have to transmit to all of us around the world? We would hate to have you lose your voice during such a exciting time in the history of soccer.
Andres Cantor says, “I would hate to lose my voice as well. I have been training for the last 6 months with Gloria Estefan’s voice coach in Miami, Florida, and I hope to have my voice very robust for all 64 games for Univision’s coverage of the World Cup. Thanks for your concern.”
Mondher: What do you think about the team groups?
Andres Cantor says, “I think the team groups are very even. There seems to be no easy group. Perhaps the most difficult one will be group D and perhaps the easiest group, at least for one of the favorites, Argentina, will be group H. However, I think most of the groups are very very balanced.”
Kiki3: Who do you think will be the best scorer?
Andres Cantor says, “I believe it is going to be between Ronaldo of Brazil and Batistuta of Argentina, and this of course is depending on how well the teams do. I believe if Spain does well in the tournament, Raul might be fighting for the goal scoring championship or at least he is the player to watch.”
Baqbaq: How are the estimations for the chances of African countries?
Andres Cantor says, “I believe the most powerful African team, Nigeria, was drawn into the toughest group. If they can find a coach and begin their preparations as soon as possible, if they can put aside all the problems that have haunted them in the past, I believe Nigeria has a superb group of players that can do well in this group and in the tournament. I believe the other four African countries have been drawn into very tough and competitive groups and they will have to do extremely well to advance.”
Henry: Who’s going to win the cup?
Andres Cantor says, “I think it’s going to be between Argentina, Brazil, Germany, France and perhaps Spain.”
Playmaker: How do you rate Belgium’s chances? Also considering the group they were drawn in?
Andres Cantor says, “I think Belgium has an exceptional group to go through to the next round; however, they have to play once again Holland and also Mexico, which have given them problems in the past. Korea might not complicate anyone in this group and Belgium has a good chance of going on to the next round.”
Far: Does Brazil has a chance to repeat?
Andres Cantor says, “I believe it’s going to be tough for them, as it has been for all South American teams playing in Europe. They have a team of superb players and if they can find the right chemistry, the right timing, and a bit of luck, they will be one of the favorites to win the Cup again. However, they must improve their defense in order to have a better chance.”
Nicofer: Do you think that USA has a decent chance to make it to the second round?
Andres Cantor says, “I believe the USA has been drawn in a very difficult group. The most accessible rival will be Iran, whom the U.S. plays second and the key match for the U.S. will be the last against Yugoslavia and the U.S. National Team will probably have to play the game of its life against a very difficult opponent. I believe the U.S. Team responds to pressure and I hope they can do well in this group.”
Erbo: Why don’t you get your own show on English-speaking TV?
Andres Cantor says, “I have an exclusive contract to work for Univision. I am very happy to work with them in Spanish, my native tongue. I am very flattered when someone asks me to broadcast in English.”
Maroc: Chaque annee, une des equipes pas trop connues sur le plan footballistique emerge du lot et cree la surprise en coupe du monde. A qui le tour cette fois a votre avis?
Andres Cantor says, “I think the surprise team could be Jamaica, in the sense that they can beat Japan and might do well against Croatia. I believe there will be no other surprises because all of the other teams are very well-known to everyone and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Chile, for example, does well in their group or even South Africa.”
Alessandro: What do you think is the so-called “Death Group’ and Why?
Andres Cantor says, “The “death group” is group D because Spain will have to play the toughest African country, Nigeria, the very competitive and complicated Paraguay, and Bulgaria, which have shown in the last World Cup that they’re capable of beating anyone finally. I believe that is the most difficult group of all.”
Tirage: Do you think that France can win the Cup?
Andres Cantor says, “I think that all host countries have an advantage. The French team needs to be physically fit and they have to find their players in top form. Hopefully those who are not currently starting in their European teams will be able to achieve the form and preparation that their coach, Aime Jacqet, wants. I know their preparation is going to be very extensive and they are going to be away right before the start of the World Cup, in order to avoid the mental pressure, so I think they stand a very good chance.”
Bill: How long have you been broadcasting football games? Did you plan to be a broadcaster or did your career evolve?
Andres Cantor says, “I’ve been broadcasting football games for 11 years. I originally wanted to be a football player myself and I guess since I wasn’t good enough, I decided to be the next best thing to a football player, which is to be the play-by-play narrator of football.”
Benny: As the final draw has been made, what do you think this world cup is gonna be like as compared to the previous ones?
Andres Cantor says, “I think this World Cup will be different in the sense that it will have 32 teams instead of 24, so the qualification to the next round will be much tougher. The fact that every team will have to travel at least twice within the first round will also make it different, so I think regardless of the way the groups have been drawn, these two aspects differentiate FRANCE98 from USA94.”
“I want to thank everyone who has participated in this chat with me. I hope that we can meet again in the Internet and for now, I invite all the U.S. fans to watch Univision’s coverage of the World Cup next summer. Thanks for your support.”