- Title: FRANCE: THE UNITED STATES WORLD CUP TEAM ARRIVES IN FRANCE
- Date: 6th June 1998
- Summary: ST. JEAN D'ARDIERES FRANCE (JUNE 5 1998) 1. HOTEL CHATEAU DE PIZAY 2. SECURITY GUARDS PATROLLING GROUNDS 3. TWO PLAYERS WITH GEESE 4. VARIOUS PLAYERS WALKING 5. US TEAM COACH STEVE SAMPSON 6. STEVE SAMPSON SAYING: "THIS IS A WORLD CUP WHERE WE WANT TO PROVE WE CAN PLAY FOR A WIN, PLAYING NOT TO LOSE AND ITS A WORLD CUP WHERE WE WANT TO PROVE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GAIN RESPECT INTERNATIONALLY IN FOOTBALL." 7. SAMPSON SAYING: THERES NO DISTRACTION. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN FAMILY SO THE PLAYERS CAN SORT OF RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHICH IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE AWAY FROM HOME. I THINK THAT THE SINGLE MOST DIFFICLUT PART OF BEING AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES IS NOT BEING IN AND AROUND THE FAMILY. (ENGLISH) 8. US PLAYER ALEXI LALAS COMMENTS: MUCH MORE RELAXED, I'M VERY EXCITED. (ENGLISH) 9. US FLAG WITH NATIONAL ANTHEM BEING PLAYED 10. THREE CHILDREN SITTING 11. US TEAM TRAINING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st June 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ST. JEAN D'ARDIERES, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA1GTKDZ3F1RENW84F0M6GGTJ8N
- Story Text: The United States World Cup soccer team arrived in St.
Jean D'Ardieres on Friday (June 5).
With their first match against mighty Germany just 10 days away, US coach Steve Sampson put his players through a light training session on a sports field under the watchful eyes of local gendarmes and half a dozen plainclothes security guards.
A relaxed Sampson told reporters at the team's base in the luxurious Chateau de Pizay, 65 kms (40 miles) north of the central city of Lyon, that his players were getting the quiet and relaxation they needed to face Germany, Iran and Yugoslavia in their first-round matches.
Sampson said the American team was not in France as the underdogs they were in 1990 and 1994 but were looking forward to taking their place among the top footballing nations.
Sampson, assistant coach in 1994, when the Americans shocked the soccer-playing world to reach the second round of the finals, said he was anxious to get his team accustomed to France.
"There are no distractions," he said as players and their partners mingled in the chateau's grounds with the resident peacocks, geese, exotic ducks and roosters.
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