FRANCE 98 – MatchQuotes
Match Number 64 BRA – FRA Quotes BRAZIL probably lost the game in the first half. FRANCE had the potential to win when they went one up and this potential increased with each goal. We did everything we could to come back in the second half and initially we had the upper hand, but we couldn’t get the better of them. FRANCE played brilliantly. They were the host and the whole country was behind the national team. It would have been nice to win a fifth World Cup, but that will have to wait for another day. I would gladly have taken the Arc de Triomphe back to BRAZIL with me, but I can’t because it belongs to you. I can’t say whether I’ll be staying on as coach. I don’t think this is the time or place to discuss that. We shall have to wait and see. It just wasn’t our day. FRANCE was better.
France were the superior team and as the first half was out of our hands I was longing for the interval in order to be able to make some changes and alter our style of play for the second half. The two goals that France scored were from set-pieces, corners, ZIDANE (10) scored one from the left and one from the right. These goals were rather like the one scored by the NETHERLANDS. We suffered a major traumatic shock before the game, a big psychological blow because RONALDO (9) was not fit to play. This made us inward-looking and inhibited in our play because the players had been upset that the first start list did not carry RONALDO’s name. Throughout the game I was wondering whether or not to take him off. If you require more details about RONALDO’s medical condition, ask the BRAZIL medical staff.
“We have been working hard for the last two years. We wanted to win this World Cup, we didn’t just want to be finalists. The victory was deserved. We have been very demanding with the players and they have responded in a truly professional manner. None of this has been easy for us. We have had to overcome all the obstacles, compensating for the absence of Zinedine ZIDANE (10), then Laurent BLANC (5), who has suffered psychologically, but who helped us enormously. The sending-off of Marcel DESAILLY (8) was the last straw. ZIDANE and GUIVARC’H (9) have had two very contrasting World Cups: I had immense confidence in both of them, they brought us this fire and will to win. Zinedine lit a beacon for us with his two goals. Overall, we have managed to create a real spirit of community with the players, a lot of close understanding, strength and generosity that the public has recognised. The confidence we had built up continued to grow as we scored more and more goals. We are proud of everything we have achieved and my feeling is that this group was completely united. The papers betrayed us, but FRANCE has seen that it had great players and a fine team. I shall never forgive a certain section of the press for what it has printed. Since the competition kicked off, the French people have been able to see for themselves that the press lied shamefully. The whole of FRANCE was behind us. The supporters saw that the players were wearing the French shirt with pride and honour. I would also like to say that Mario ZAGALLO is the world’s best coach. I admired him as a player and I have admired him as a coach. He is a great sportsman. I would need two lifetimes to equal his track record. I know that he appreciates the qualities of French football.”
LEONARDO (18):
“Everybody was waiting for tonight’s match BRAZIL-FRANCE. We weren’t able to act at the right moment especially when we conceded the first goal. We congratulate France, not only for their victory but also for the organisation of the 16th World Cup. This team didn’t get where they are tonight by themselves.”
BEBETO (20):
“It is very hard to lose a final. We are very unhappy. RONALDO (9) means a lot to us and we were very worried about him, he could have been taken out of the game at any moment. There’s nothing to explain, FRANCE are the winners. The second goal really hit us hard. We are going back to BRAZIL to rest.”
RIVALDO (10):
“I can’t believe what’s happened to us. We simply have to admit that FRANCE won. They were the host country. We just didn’t manage to get into the game. We played messily and we are very tired. Our aim was to win the trophy. ZIDANE did very well. The FRANCE team were more fired up than we were.”
Zinedine ZIDANE (10):
“It’s the most important match of my life. It hasn’t sunk in yet. It will dawn on me tomorrow. The only thing that I know is that the Cup will stay in FRANCE for the next four years. We will be celebrating tomorrow and I’ll be thinking about everyone tonight”.
Robert PIRES (11):
“Kissing the Cup was the most incredible feeling. To be able to touch it is a dream for many footballers. It’s something extraordinary”.
