France-Croatia - E. Petit: "There's only one more step to climb"

09.07.98 01h11 CET

Didier DESCHAMPS (7, Captain):

"We had a very good first twenty minutes then we ran into a really rough patch. They caught us cold right at the start of the second half but luckily we equalised. As for the sending off of Laurent BLANC (5), the referee, who had up till then been very good, let himself be influenced. It will perhaps be our last World Cup. Laurent (BLANC) deserved to play in the final. We'll do our best to win for him. Tonight, BRAZIL aren't on our minds, we'll think about them tomorrow. We are capable of unsettling their defence. We now need a good rest. Frank LEBOEUF (18) deserves a place in the team. One man's joy is another man's sorrow."

 

Fabien BARTHEZ (16):

"This evening my thoughts are with Laurent BLANC (5). On Sunday, we'll play for him and if we win the Cup, that will also be for him. When we conceded the first goal we hit back very quickly and I'm really pleased for Lilian THURAM (15) who scored a great pair of goals. Its promising for the future. I know the BRAZIL team well and I just hope that on Sunday it will be a really magnificent game of football."

 

Laurent BLANC (5):

"Regarding my sending-off, players on both sides had been provoking one another. BILIC (6) persisted in having a go at me. The referee indicated that he thought I had hit BILIC, but I don't think he saw what actually happened. I thought I'd get a yellow card but when I saw the red card I respected the referee's decision. For me this is a moment of utter solitude, a personal catastrophe, but the team spirit will help me to get over my disappointment. I've had my piece of the cake but unfortunately I won't be getting a taste of the cherry."

 

Bixente LIZARAZU (3):

"The CROATIA team was technically very strong and sly, as proven by the sending-off of Laurent BLANC (5). This sending-off could have had more serious consequences as we have already seen in this World Cup. I still can't believe that we are in the final".

 

Youri DJORKAEFF (6):

"I cannot find the words to describe our reaching the final. We are thrilled to fulfil our dream. When they opened the scoring, we didn't have time to worry about it and we responded immediately. I'm now thinking of that essay I wrote when I was 12 in primary school saying that I would one day play in a World Cup final."

 

Stéphane GUIVARC'H (9):

"Youri (DJORKAEFF 6) likes to drop back and I find myself playing alone in a centre forward role. It was a relentless struggle. We can't believe we've won and it will only sink in tomorrow. We will give everything we've got in order to win. We've seen that the BRAZIL team is not the giant it is made out to be because they have conceded several goals. We must now concentrate on recuperating physically. Games like this are always hard but getting through them is the most important thing.

 

Emmanuel PETIT (17):

"It's historic and there's only one more step to climb. The final will be the hardest match but the most amazing to play in. Like the Brazilians, we suffered physically. We went right off the boil towards the end of the first half. Our defence fell back a bit and then we put more pressure on them. I trust Frank LEBOEUF (18) completely. He's a star in England and is used to big matches. FRANCE's qualification for the final shows our defensive strength. It will be an open final. We're playing for the supreme title and we're going to get it".