FRANCE 98 – MatchQuotes

Match Number 26 BEL – MEX Quotes

Georges LEEKENS:

“I don’t know whether I should be unhappy or not with the result, because when you’re 2-0 up and playing against only 10 men, you ought to finish up winning. The danger came from the three top-class Mexican forwards. Luck was on our side in the first half but I think the result is maybe OK. And of course, the Mexicans are more used to this heat than us. I just hope the weather will change, but that wasn’t the cause of the result. We did of course score two goals, which unfortunately wasn’t enough, but at least it shows that we can score, because the media at home had their doubts. Now we just have to win against South Korea, that’s all.”

Manuel LAPUENTE:

“This was a highly contested match. We wanted to win, and were well on the way to acheiving this when we got a red card. From then on, we had to play with only ten men, which meant changing our tactics. After that, a Belgian player was also sent off and we managed to score two goals to equalise. But at the end of the day, we didn’t win the match, or the three points. We have been in Europe for a month and a half to get used to the weather, but today what bothered us the most was having to play with only ten men for a significant part of the match. The match was always well-balanced. We are fully aware that we are still not through to the next round. The result of the next match against the NETHERLANDS will all depend on us. Our team no longer has Hugo SANCHEZ, but we have skilled players who are capable of scoring.”

Enzo SCIFO (14)

“I’m happy to have played, but the disappointment of this draw is stronger still. It was easier for us when the Mexicans were reduced to ten men. But the heat is not an excuse, it was the same for both teams. At the end, the Mexicans played better than we did. We are disappointed because we were leading 2 – 0, and we ended up with a draw. Our aim was not to lose. Personally, I was very well prepared, and I wasn’t nervous at all. After twenty minutes of play, some of the players complained about the heat, but after our first goal, I thought they would forget it, and things would get better. We could have avoided the red cards. Too many cards are being given in general, and it inhibits the players. For instance, at one point, I committed a slight foul, and I was afraid I would get a card”.

Filip DE WILDE (1)

“We suffered from the heat, more even than four years ago in the UNITED STATES, especially since the temperature has changed very quickly in just one week. But I think the Mexicans suffered as much as us. I’m disappointed with the result, because we were leading 2 – 0, and we had one player more than the Mexicans. The fact that we didn’t win shows that we are not the strongest. We took advantage of the Mexican being sent off to lead, and I think the turning point of the match was the penalty and VERHEYEN’s (18) red card. MEXICO are a great team and they deserved the draw”.

Marc WILMOTS (7)

“This was a very difficult match. It wore me out a lot. At the beginning of the match, I weighed 92 kg, and only 87 kg by the end. It was the most physically demanding match of my career. I couldn’t breathe, it was so airless. My first goal was similar to the one I could have scored against the NETHERLANDS in the first match of this World Cup. The ball came to me, and I couldn’t take it on my head or my foot, so I used my stomach. The second goal was much more difficult. Then we had two chances to make it 3-0, but we didn’t score, and the Mexicans managed to equalise 2 – 2”.

Alberto GARCIA ASPE, Captain (8)

“We played well up to the point when PARDO (13) was sent off. After that we had a hard time. What with the heat, we even thought we wouldn’t score. We started to play well again in the second half. I think the decision to send off our player was a little harsh, because the referee was swayed by the other referees’ decisions. However, I do think the Belgian player who was sent off, deserved it more. Today, after this draw, our position is better than that of the Belgians, since we have four points and the Belgians only have two. We will do our best against the NETHERLANDS, and the Belgians haven’t beaten SOUTH KOREA yet.”

Luis HERNANDEZ (15)

We knew before the kick-off, that this match would be hard and that we would be up against it. During the match, the decision to send our player off was perhaps questionable, but we had to continue to fight on, so that our spectators would understand that we were giving our all to qualify. It will be hard to qualify, but we can do it.”

Jorge CAMPOS (1)

“Playing with only ten men from the twenty-fifth minute was certainly a handicap. In the second half, despite the second Belgian goal, MEXICO played better football and we managed to score. Later on, when it was ten players against ten, we even hoped to win it but, in fact, the final score (2-2) is a reasonable reflection of the game. As far as Pavel PARDO (13) being sent off is concerned, I think the rule about tackles from behind was applied”.

Ramon RAMIREZ (7)

“We played with three defenders and Jesus ARELLANO (21) and I were kept very busy up front. We all tried our best throughout the match. In fact, we had no choice but it paid off. Personally speaking, I’m not disappointed that I didn’t score. I tried to give good balls to the other forwards so that they could score. That’s the way I played in the first match against SOUTH KOREA (Saturday 13 June in LYON) and I played the same way against BELGIUM, playing the ball which led to the penalty”.