Italy – L. Di Biagio: “It will be difficult to shed my penalty-shoot-out experience versus France”

Statements collected from the Senlis Leisure Centre (north of PARIS), Saturday, 4 July

Fabio CANNAVARO (5):

“The match yesterday (ITALY-FRANCE) was just. The consequences of Stéphane GUIVARC’H’s (9) injury was four stitches. GUIVARC’H excused himself for this regrettable incident. Today, I feel fine and the pain has not come back, although I still think that the French attacker deserved a red card for this action. The FRANCE team played well in the first half, but they did not go on to look like an unbeatable side. Anyway, a penalty shoot-out is a lottery. I think that to win a final against BRAZIL, who I reckon are favourites on the same par as FRANCE, the FRANCE team needs to mature fast. And concerning the decision to play DEL PIERO (10) or Roberto BAGGIO (18), one must respect the choice of the coach. I know that DEL PIERO has the sort of talent that would be unfair to lay by the wayside, because he would have taken us to a final victory in this World Cup.”

Luigi DI BIAGIO (14):

“It will be difficult to shed my penalty-shoot-out experience versus FRANCE. Even though I reckon that a penalty shoot-out consists of ninety percent luck and only ten percent skill, I regret not having suffered a defeat on the field. They said to me that I was the Italian revelation of this World Cup, but I don’t think about that today: I only have time to think about the mistake that I have made. I know that a player cannot be judged on one penalty alone, but I missed at the decisive moment. I will never forget CANDELA’s (2) gesture, as he kissed me and cried with me after my failure. One can criticise the ITALY team for lacking imagination, but our job was to hold back from and then exploit our opponents, and I think that we did that well”.

Roberto BAGGIO (18):

“We did all that we could have. FRANCE 98 is my third World Cup, and it is the third time that we’ve lost on penalties. In 1994, in the UNITED STATES, it was me who committed the decisive mistake, which is why I understand what DI BIAGIO is going through. My mistake was more serious because I made it in the final. I know that the effect of missing a penalty only wears off after four years. Now, I will start a new season with Inter Milan and I hope to be able to follow this through to the end with the Italian league and in the Champions League. In spite of everything, I really look forward to the next time that I can pull on the “squadra azzurra” colours of the ITALY team jersey once again”.

Francesco MORIERO (17):

“We could have done more against FRANCE even though we fought with courage. I have no reproaches to make, either to me or my team-mates. Football is a funny old game, and anything can happen. It is unfair that one of the best players of this World Cup like DI BIAGIO could not score the decisive goal. I understand his feelings: this is why I told the others not to bother going up to him and to let him cry alone. I hope that in future he will get everything that he deserves”.