FRANCE 98 – The France team will have to do without Zidane and Dugarry

The injury of Christophe DUGARRY (21), who is suffering from a strained right thigh and the two-match suspension of Zinédine ZIDANE (10) will not disrupt the FRANCE team that will face DENMARK on 24 June in LYON, at 16h00. According to Aimé JACQUET, the FRANCE team coach, “the team will be able to adapt to the situation. We had already envisaged such an eventuality, and the quality of our substitutes bench will allow us to fill in the gaps. However the referees decision was a little hasty I feel. A yellow card would have been enough. It is also important to underline that the Saudi captain was out to provoke ZIDANE.”

The captain, Didier DESCHAMPS (7), has underlined that the anger of ZIDANE was due to his “Mediterranean character, which he cannot always control. In the heat of the moment I lost my temper with him, having seen the replay though, I still think that the decision was on the harsh side even though I don’t excuse what he did. To help Zizou overcome his ordeal we have all offered him a few words of comfort.”

However harsh the decision is though, ZIDANE has said that he feels “disappointed and deflated. I know what I have done, and therefore what I deserve! I have set the team back, but we still have the ability to go all the way. My nervousness and my conduct were due principally to the pressure which I have been under. I will learn the lesson. I am also very concerned about the Christophe’s injury, which might be more serious than thought.”

Youri DJORKAEFF (6) felt the same way, “the injury of DUGARRY has left us with a bitter taste in our mouths. All these trying moments reinforce our team. The biggest difficulty at the moment is the need to limit injuries. His presence will be sorely missed if FRANCE continue their progress.” For the defender Lilian THURAM (15) “no player is irreplaceable!” We mustn’t, however, focus on these two black spots because FRANCE should find a positive frame of mind. The team has taken full honours from their two first matches: (7 goals scored, none conceded).