FRANCE 98 – France – Th. Henry: “We must play the 4 matches of our lives if we are going to be World champions”
Statements from Clairefontaine:
“I have seen videos of the PARAGUAY (Group D) matches. They like to soak up pressure from their opponents and play a counterattacking game. They are very effective at this style of play. PARAGUAY leave little space between the lines and suck their opponents into the trap. They have an excellent defence, but I feel their main strength lies in their group cohesion. They also play as a very concentrated and solid unit. We don’t intend to be caught unawares, however. From now on, up against such quality opposition, we must play the 4 matches of our lives if we are going to be world champions in 1998.
Is CHILAVERT (1) really the best goalkeeper in the world? I can assure you that the best goal keeper in the world is the one I see in training every day: Fabien BARTHEZ (16).
Against DENMARK, it didn’t bother me that I didn’t start the match. Meanwhile, as a substitute, I was able to recover my strength after the previous matches. Anyway, I don’t have a divine right to a place in the final line-up. I am part of the 22-man squad and that’s the way it should be. At my age, you give without counting the cost. David TREZEGUET (20) and I value our opportunity to play in the group. Our youth and spontaneity have really added something to the French team’s game, and our linking up with more experienced players has borne fruit.
I’m a big fan of the golden goal because the player who scores experiences a rush of intensity and joy, knowing that he has brought victory to his team. A lot of people are claiming to have played a part in my success in this tournament. But I can tell you that many of these people were nowhere to be seen during the last few months. I owe my return to the FRANCE team mainly to my family and friends, together with Claude Puel (the fitness trainer for AS Monaco, the French premier league club for which HENRY plays) and Raymond Domenech (the FRANCE youth team coach).