FRANCE 98 – MatchQuotes

11.06.98

Match Number 4 ITA – CHI Quotes

Cesare MALDINI:

Speaking in BORDEAUX

” We started off well, then slacked off in the 48^th minute and what’s more we were punished for it. We came back on the pitch fearing the worst, it took a while to find our feet. We could have even scored a third if we’d had a bit of luck. Had we played better we could have won. It was a difficult game and some of the players suffered for it, but we are now confident for the next match. The substitutions were tactical choices, they were not due to injuries. As for the Chileans, they did a good job. All we have to do now is keep working the way we have been so far to give ourselves the best chance against CAMEROON.”

Nelson ACOSTA :

“SALAS (11) was fantastic, a natural goal-scorer, he was in the right place when we needed a goal, even if he missed some chances. When he is sure of himself, you can see what he is capable of. He is definitely the man-of-the-match. Not only did he score both goals but he also made good use of the ball. I would have liked to have been able to celebrate the beginning of the World Cup and my birthday with a victory, but the most important thing is that the team played well. As for the penalty, it’s hard for me to comment, I didn’t really see what happened, I didn’t see how Ronaldo FUENTES (3) touched the ball with his hand, or even whether it was deliberate or not. But once the whistle has gone, there is nothing you can do about it. It might be regrettable, but that’s just the way it is.”

Paolo MALDINI, captain (3):

“For us the objective is now to win the next two games in order to win our group and get into the next round. We had a lot of problems coping with the strong winds and changing conditions. Because of that I now feel as though I played three or four different matches. We were knocked back by the second Chilean goal, but got a grip on ourselves, and were able to equalise. In the end we didn’t play well enough to win, but not so badly enough to lose. When Roberto BAGGIO (18) picked up the ball, some of the players wanted to go and have a word with him, but others stopped them, to let him concentrate in peace. At that moment the whole team was fully behind him.”

Roberto BAGGIO (18):

“It was a good match, even though it was tough for everyone. We started off well, but the Chileans gradually got back into it. This draw is not a disaster. In the World Cup in the USA in 1994 we lost our first match against the Republic of Ireland, but we still made it to the final. As I was about to take the penalty I thought back to the one I had to take in the final of USA ’94. I concentrated hard and put it in the back of the net. It was great to become the first player in the history of Italian football to have scored at least one goal in three consecutive World Cups.”

Roberto DI MATTEO (16):

“CHILE (Group B) are a good team. We were a bit unlucky with their equaliser in injury time of the first half. You could say that, for us, the first half was too long and the second too short. As usual, both teams were nervous; it’s only human. In the last ten minutes we pushed forward but could not equalise despite the fact that we tried hard and had lots of chances. Then came the penalty. We will have to win the next two games in order to be sure of finishing top of our group, even if it is not essential in order for us to qualify.”

Christian VIERI (21):

“For the first goal Roberto BAGGIO (18), set me up with a wonderful ball, and I only had to knock it in. It wasn’t the most difficult of matches. Every match is hard. The ones against AUSTRIA and CAMEROON will certainly be no exception.”

Gianluca PAGLIUCA (12):

“We had a good game. It was an important match for the team as we have recently been greatly criticised back home in ITALY. We played well in the first half, but CHILE (Group B) took control of the game in the second. We came back well at the end. We’ve got a good, solid team. We need to stay alert in order to get through to the next round. We knew the Chileans were very strong in the air, we had been warned of this, especially SALAS(11). We discovered this to our cost. Our defenders played well but had trouble controlling the threat of ZAMORANO (9) and SALAS (11). It will be the same for the other teams.”