- Title: PORTUGAL: FRENC H COACH JACQUES SANTINI TALKS ABOUT EURO 2004 SOCCER
- Date: 26th June 2004
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 26, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. FRENCH COACH JACQUES SANTINI WALKS INTO BRIEFING ROOM 2. (SOUNDBITES)(FRENCH) SANTINI SAYS: "I insisted all players and all staff should meet at the end of the game in the locker rooms, because, for some people, trainers, myself, or some players, it may be the last time we see each other wearing the blue shirt. You know, when we initially suggested there would be no press conference today, it was for us a way to step back a bit, as you can expect, between the disappointment of getting eliminated and we had a very short night, our mind is not so clear, and it is not so easy to answer questions and draw conclusions on what happened. I think like all of us, they must be disappointed. Maybe for this game, we did not have a tactic, especially against Greek aggressiveness, to block them; another important factor that had been felt since the first game against England, against such solid, competitive, well-organised teams, our technique was the main cause not only of our lack of domination during these games, but also of our lack of success in last night's game. You have to take into account your opponent's level, because, when you have to win, for example, like in Cyprus, you need a certain quality but there it's more a mental kind of quality. But what we discussed with your print colleagues yesterday, as long as there is no system to coordinate schedules, and especially as long as you haven't got longer training periods to get players ready they end up completely exhausted after playing 11 months of important games with their clubs. It doesn't come as a surprise to see that already in 2002 and 2004, the majority of the big teams, incorporating these players, were not able to impose themselves in such competition." 3. SANTINI LEAVES ROOM Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 11th July 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
- Country: Portugal
- Reuters ID: LVA9F4B7RR09637R2LC0WQRQM82V
- Story Text: French coach Jacques Santini speaks of his
disappointment at France being eliminated in Euro 2004.
Coach Jacques Santini admitted on Saturday (June 26)
Euro 2004 with a shock 1-0 defeat by Greece.
The 2000 champions laboured against a disciplined Greek
side and appeared to run out of ideas after going behind in
the 65th minute to an Angelos Haristeas header.
Santini, who will shortly depart for English premier
league club Tottenham Hotspur, said: "Maybe for this game,
we did not have a tactic, especially against Greek
aggressiveness, to block them; another important factor
that had been felt since the first game against England,
against such solid, competitive, well-organised teams, our
technique was the main cause not only of our lack of
domination during these games, but also of our lack of
success in last night's game".
France never really shone in the tournament. They
pulled off a dramatic, and extremely fortunate, 2-1 victory
over England thanks to two injury-time goals by Zinedine
Zidane.
In their next game against Croatia they needed a
defensive blunder by their opponents to help them gain a
2-2 draw, while they failed to sparkle against the Swiss
despite winning 3-1 and topping Group B.
Santini said France were victims of their own success
four years ago because every side they played had a greater
incentive to beat the reigning champions. And he complained
about the physical condition of some of his players after a
hard season of club football.
"As long as there is no system to coordinate schedules,
and especially as long as you haven't got longer training
periods to get players ready they end up completely
exhausted after playing 11 months of important games with
their clubs," he said.
Far from departing his job on a high, Santini will now
head to London with question marks over his two years in
charge of the French national team.
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