FRANCE 98 – Argentina – D. Passarella: “The first match is always the most difficult”

“The Argentinian team will play their own game. This is because we do not know how JAPAN (Group H) will play. The most important thing is that all my players should be physically fit. The only doubt concerns Hernan CRESPO (19) who has still not fully recovered. Tomorrow’s game is very important because the first match is always the most difficult. Tomorrow we will find out what our role in the competition will be. We will have to go into this game with humility and respect in order to find a good balance which will get us into the match straight away. That’s why I’m doing my best to ensure that my players have the peace which such a balance requires, it’s the only thing I’m interested in at the moment. We saw from the France match (Group C) that all the games will be hard. The French had to give everything to allow them to play their own game and to win the match. To win a competition like this you must have maximum willpower and energy. All my players have these qualities. That’s why we are going to rest CRESPO for a week. We will see at the end of this recovery time if he will be able to play a part in the competition, or not.”