Italy-France – P. Battiston: “If France meets Germany, the French will have the benefit of a certain experience”

Comments from NANTES

“I’m thrilled, as the match was a very difficult one and we saw a French team who merited their position among the favourites. The match was particularly tactical, but overall the tricolours had a lot more opportunities. They dealt well with the pressure and the shoot-out. They may meet CROATIA in the semi-finals, a team who played very well against ROMANIA. But if FRANCE meets GERMANY, the French will have the benefit of a certain experience of their game. Although they didn’t play in 1982, the new generation of players did see what happened. It is very important for FRANCE to be aware of their strong points. The past is only the past – it can serve as a reference, but what matters most is the present and the future. The present is July 8 and the future is the final match on July 12 – the day that FRANCE could proudly hold up the trophy.”