Michel PLATINI summarises the first week of matches

Comments from the 16 June press conference at the International Media Centre (CIM) in PARIS.

“If we summarise the first 16 matches played since the World Cup kicked off, it seems as though the competition is wide open and balanced: no one team stands out above the rest. I’m also very happy that there have been many goals in this first round of competition, unlike the first rounds of previous World Cups. In the 16 matches this week, an average of 2.3 goals were scored in each match-up.

My only regret is that some of the “small teams” overestimated their opponents. They focused too much on defence, with the unique objective of ending up in a draw. It’s unfortunate, because these less-experienced teams definitely have the means to surprise us. Nonetheless, I expect they’ll step their performance up a notch in the coming two matches.

As for the athletes, no one single player has impressed me greatly. As far as I’m concerned, a great player is one who makes the right pass at the right time. That’s what has impressed me with Dragan STOJKOVIC (no. 10 from YUGOSLAVIA, Group F) or Gabriel BATISTUTA (no. 9 from ARGENTINA, Group H). The UNITED STATES (Group F) have an attractive game, but the American players often err on the last pass.”