BELGIUM: FRENCH COACH ROGER LEMERRE WARNS AGAINST COMPLACENCY AHEAD OF THEI EURO 2000 GROUP D MATCH AGAINST THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Record ID: 208413

  • Title: BELGIUM: FRENCH COACH ROGER LEMERRE WARNS AGAINST COMPLACENCY AHEAD OF THEI EURO 2000 GROUP D MATCH AGAINST THE CZECH REPUBLIC
  • Date: 15th June 2000
  • Summary: KNOKKE, BELGIUM (JUNE 15, 2000) 1. EXTERIOR HOTEL LA RESERVE, KNOKKE, BELGIUM 2. WIDE NEWS CONFERENCE OF FRENCH COACH ROGER LEMERRE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH) ROGER LEMERRE SAYING: "We have to keep these three points, keep the advantage we have on the Czech Republic and Denmark. We know it is not going to be easy. We have seen it again yesterday. Belgium had a three point advantage and they are in a delicate position ahead of a difficult third game. So, I never react on hypothesis but according to actions. And we will have actions tomorrow. So if the qualifications were to be finished today we would pass, but we don't know about tomorrow." 4. VARIOUS CUTAWAY MEDIA 5. (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) DEFENDER FRANK LEBOEUF SAYING: "You have to go for the header and make sure that the other half will cover you for the deflection and make sure that the two defenders on the side will come and cover you also. The two midfielders will make a circle around the striker to avoid the good second ball for the midfield players. That's what we will try to do and it is what I try to do when I play for Chelsea and when I play against a tall player. It worked very well, so it might be the only way to cope with those kind of players." 6. CUTAWAY PRESS 7. EXTERIOR HOTEL WITH LAKE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KNOKKE, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVA5SOE9O7VWVEJ0HOMOV0XJ8G95
  • Story Text: France coach Roger Lemerre warned on Thursday (June 15)
    against complacency against ahead of their Euro 2000 group D
    game against the Czech Republic on Friday. But there was still
    a frosty atmosphere between the French squad and the media.



    To speak, or not to speak. That is the big
    philosophical question in the Euro 2000 camp of world
    champions France.

    The French have enjoyed a smooth start to their journey
    through Euro 2000 on the pitch but coach Roger Lemerre is
    still having a rough ride with the media off it.

    The build-up to France's impressive 3-0 defeat of Denmark
    in their opening group D match on Sunday was dominated by a
    dispute between the coach and the media after several players
    refused to talk to the press.

    Lemerre, who has been avoiding the press since that game,
    criticised reporters again on Thursday on the eve of the World
    Cup winners' clash with the Czech Republic, saying they were
    responsible for the problem.

    The French may be playing sweet soccer but their public
    relations have gone sour. Captain Didier Deschamps has yet to
    talk to the media during the tournament.

    Although some players have been turning up for media
    briefings in recent days, several have refused to meet the
    press. Lemerre said on Thursday he was only appearing at a
    news conference because of the rules of European governing
    body UEFA.

    The bad relations reached a low point last Saturday when
    the French press staged a boycott of Lemerre's press
    conference in Ostend. They wanted to make a protest after
    Deschamps refused to turn up to talk to reporters.

    Lemerre, who speaks in a philosophical manner adopted by
    few football coaches, then answered a few questions about
    Friday's clash with the Czechs in Bruges.

    The trainer gave nothing away about his team for the game
    which the Czechs need to win after losing their opening match
    to the Netherlands.

    "We have to keep these three points, keep the advantage we
    have on the Czech Republic and Denmark. We know it is not
    going to be easy. We have seen it again yesterday. Belgium had
    a three point advantage and they are in a delicate position
    ahead of a difficult third game. So, I never react on
    hypothesis but according to actions. And we will have actions
    tomorrow. So if the qualifications were to be finished today
    we would pass, but we don't know about tomorrow", Lemerre.

    Central defender Frank Leboeuf gave an insight on how he
    approaches certain situations. "You have to go for the header
    and make sure that the other half will cover you for the
    deflection and make sure that the two defenders on the side
    will come and cover you also. The two midfielders will make a
    circle around the striker to avoid the good second ball for
    the midfield players. That's what we will try to do and it is
    what I try to do when I play for Chelsea and when I play
    against a tall player. It worked very well, so it might be the
    only way to cope with those kind of players", the Chelsea
    defender said.


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