England – G. Hoddle: “A match against Argentina is always a big occasion”

Comments from SAINT-ETIENNE, Monday 29 June

A match against ARGENTINA suits me better than one against CROATIA, as we always play better against a stronger opponent. About the match tomorrow, there’s no particular stress on the staff or the players. For me, the pressure peaks during the first match as if we lose, we have to chase after the others. We’ve got past this point and as you all saw during the training, we’re all very relaxed. David BECKHAM (7) and Robert LEE (17) are a bit tired following the previous matches, and didn’t join the others during today’s training, but they should be fit for tomorrow. The match against ARGENTINA won’t be a revenge of the quarterfinal in 1986, we just want to qualify. The “hand of God” wasn’t Maradona’s fault, nor ARGENTINA’s fault, but the referee’s. The present team is better than that of 1986, even if they lack experience. In four years time, the young players will develop their potential. It’s been 18 months that I’ve wanted to play David BECKHAM and Darren ANDERTON (14) together. When they’re on the pitch together, they balance each other well. We’ve worked a lot on penalty kicks, but we hope it won’t go that far. It is clear that our marking will have to be very tight when playing against someone like Gabriel BATISTUTA (9). A match against ARGENTINA is always a big occasion and tomorrow, at the stade Geoffroy-Guichard, we’ll give 110% for our country and for the qualifaction into the quarter-finals.”