FRANCE 98 – MatchQuotes
Match Number 48 ARG – HRV Quotes Miroslav BLAZEVIC
“I think we missed a few chances but I’m happy with our tactical performance. We were able to improve the level of our play and this augurs well for future matches. It was a pleasant match. ARGENTINA deserved to win and confirmed its great ambitions, which are well-founded. Personally I was pleased with my team because, having played against ARGENTINA, we left the pitch with our heads high. I’m very pleased to be coming back to BORDEAUX for the next round to this magnificent stadium, with perhaps a little more luck next time. We didn’t have any injuries. The only small problem was that our sweeper SOLDO (14), who received a second yellow card, will be suspended. But even if there was a risk in playing him today, I knew what I was doing.”
Daniel PASSARELLA
” We are very satisfied. In my view, in this first round, the team has played better and better. We finished up playing the strongest team, and we deserved to win. The match against CROATIA was difficult because our opponents control the ball very well, but we were able to cut through their defence and we had more scoring opportunities. The main thing is that, having won this match, we can stay in SAINT-ETIENNE. Our prime objective was to qualify for the last sixteen. Having won our first two matches, we had already qualified, so our next priority was to choose a venue rather than a team to play against. From now on, we enter a phase where the matches will be closer together and travelling is more tiring for the players”.
Dario SIMIC (20)
“I wasn’t looking forward to this game, but in the end I made the grade. As it turned out, it wasn’t all that bad. ARGENTINA is a great team. We managed to play more or less as well as each other. We shouldn’t be ashamed of losing.”
Robert JARNI (17)
“ARGENTINA won, but we were expecting that because they’re a great team. It was an interesting match, liked by the crowd. There was a significant element of luck in it, because one of our shots hit the post. It doesn’t matter who we play in the next round, we’ll play our own game.”
Aliocha ASANOVIC (7)
“I think we played well, even if we were a little nervous. We played to win, even if the result wasn’t that important because both teams were already qualified. At the end of the day, it makes no real difference whether we finish first or second in the group.”
Hector PINEDA (4) :
” I’m very happy to have scored but this goal was in fact the result of all the work which the whole team began 50 days ago. Having said that, it’s basically down to luck that I was the one who scored. The coach made his choice and decided to play me. A World Cup is always an important event. When you’re not part of it, you dream about it. Once you’re there, you only want to do one thing: play”.
Matias ALMEYDA (5) :
“CROATIA was the strongest team in the group. We couldn’t take them lightly because they have such good players. We started off well against JAPAN, and we got stronger against JAMAICA. Today, against our toughest opponent, we finished well. When the team plays like that, when we are united together and everybody follows orders, nothing can go wrong. Myself, I was really impressed by VERON’s (11) and GALLARDO’s (20) contributions who effectively countered the Croat midfielders and strikers. “.
Zvonimir BOBAN (10), Captain
“It was a great match, we showed we are up to playing against the greatest teams. We still have a few adjustments to make to be even stronger. Although SOLDO’s suspension for the next round could cause us a few problems, no player is really indispensable”.
Davor SUKER (9)
“We played a good game, but no-one is happy to lose. We let in a goal stupidly that we should never have let happen. I’m very unhappy with the referee who was biased towards ARGENTINA. We had our chance but now we have to forget this defeat and prepare ourselves in order to be 100% ready to face our next opponent. It’s a shame that SOLDO (14) got his second yellow card, because now he won’t be playing (through suspension) in the second round. He’s undoubtedly the best man to play sweeper, and we’re definitely going to miss him”.
Zvonimir SOLDO (14)
“The Argentinians were in control of the game, and managed to make more chances than we did, but we shouldn’t be ashamed of losing to a great Argentinian team. As for my yellow card, I didn’t commit a foul, so I shouldn’t have been booked. Anyway, STIMAC (4) and JURIC (5) can do my job in the next match”.
Slaven BILIC (6)
“In the first half, we were under pressure, because we were nervous and stressed out. But in the second half, we settled down and took control of the game. I think we could have scored. But when ARGENTINA are leading, they know how to give their opponent the run-around just like BRAZIL. VERON (11) is a great player and the whole game centres around him. I’m not all that disappointed that we lost; it was a good match and after all, we have qualified for the second round”.
