FRANCE 98 – C. Cannavò, Director of the Gazzetta dello Sport: “It's impossible to anticipate the result of a match as important as Italy-France”

Comments from the Leisure Centre in Senlis (north of PARIS)

“I think that the ITALY-FRANCE game today at the Stade de France in SAINT-DENIS will be a good match, with the way the ITALY team are playing. It’ll be important for the Italian players not to let themselves get bunched up in their goal area. One of ITALY’s strong points is being familiar with their opponents’ game. In this match the players know each other very well, because they practically all play in the Italian league. And a large number of French players have adopted an Italian style of playing. This takes out all the unpredictable side of the match, which, in my view, will be won by the feats of an inspired individual rather than because of any strategy dreamed up by a coach. As for the return of Zinedine ZIDANE (10), I think he’ll have to be closely marked and not just with one style of cover. In fact, he’s a Juventus player, and moves around the field a lot in a variety of positions, both offensive and defensive. Finally, I just don’t have any idea how it’s going to turn out. It’s impossible to anticipate the result of a match as important as ITALY-FRANCE.”