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Djorkaeff
won't score against me! -France is the favourite, also because this World Cup is being played in this country. The French have been preparing themselves for it for four years. I'm not sure that they will have another chance to become world champions in the nearest future if they don't win now. I think that's why the match will be very intense. -What do you think of the play of the Italian team against the Norwegians? -I'm very proud of the way we played the game. Our team was an indivisible whole and we proved that we can control the game for 90 minutes, even when we play against such a persistent and experienced opponent. But... it's too early to draw further conclusions, because we're just in the quarterfinals. -Were there no flaws in the Italian national team? -I didn't notice any evident ones. It was very difficult to get through the tenacious Norwegian defence. But everyone who meets this team faces these problems. Even the Brazilians! Besides, everybody knows what the Norwegian counterattack is like! If you miss one, you will not win it back! We were successful in neutralising the Norwegian forwards. I think our team is in a brilliant mood after this victory. In any case, our mood is much better now than it was before the matches against Austria and Norway. -Alessandro Del Piero doesn't finish his attacks as successfully at the moment as he did earlier in this season... -That's true! But you have to learn to be patient when you deal with such high-class forwards as Alessandro. Remember Roberto Baggio. He didn't show anything in the World Cup 94 in the preliminary matches. But he burst open in the game against Nigeria. Robby was liberated and nothing could stop him. He was playing better and better in each game. He scored five goals in three games! It seemed impossible. The same can be said about Del Piero. I think we would have won 4:0 against the Norwegians if Alessandro had been in top condition. -Did you have any doubts in the match against Norway? -Yes, the last 20 minutes. I kept asking the camera man from RAI , who filmed behind my goal:"How much time is left?" It was not because I was afraid of the Norwegians. I was afraid that it would be necessary to play until the "golden goal" in overtime. It's a very hard situation for a goalkeeper, because he cannot make any mistake! -So, you did not want to play overtime; is that why you reacted so well when T.-A. Flo tried to score? -There are no thoughts in such moments. All is done by reflex. I guessed the direction of Flo's kick and stopped the ball just on the line. I suppose, I could not have done it if the lawn had been wet. The end of this match was very intense, and I wasn't sure if my face turned red because of the sun or because of the emotions. -After this match you were compared to Dino Zoff. Zoff made the same good save in the game with the Brazilians. -It was a similar situation, though Dino and the Italian team had a stronger opponent. But... It's very pleasant when you are compared to a great goalkeeper! -Of the French team, who is the most dangerous for you? Is it Djorkaeff, your teammate in F.C. Internazionale? -Youri has every chance to become one of the best players in this World Cup. He has had his ups and downs, but I've seen that he is prepared and has regained the form. Even Ronaldo is not as dangerous as Youri. -You are exaggerating, aren't you? -No, I'm not. The French national team is the strongest opponent for any team. Everybody says that if the French want to win, no one can stop them from becoming world champions. They have great players, a coach with very refined tactics, they have prepared themselves excellently for this tournament, and they have the support of the stands.... Our match is the final. It's a pity it's premature. As to Djorkaeff, we talked about it on the phone not very long ago. I remembered his excellent goal in Tournoi de France one year ago on this field - Parc de Prince (2:2), so I said that I will not let him do the same again! I've tried to call him to remind him of it, but I got his answering machine. -You don't turn off your mobile phone? -No. Moratti, the president of F.C. Internazionale, can call me. We have a tradition: We must talk before every important match. That has become a good tradition. Also, my mother calls me. I left her in Bologna. She was at the match when I was sent off four years ago in the USA. That's why I forbade her to go to France. Just until the final... -Who do you fear - apart from Youri? -Zidane. I don't know who is the most dangerous - he or Youri! At the beginning of this World Cup it seemed to me that the attack was the weak spot of the French team. But then Henri and Trezeguet appeared. Also Lizarazu made a great impression on me! He is like a tractor! Nobody can stop him at the flanks. As to the French team as a whole, it seems to me that they don't have any weak spots now. So, I'm not sure about anything... In fact, we have several choices regarding our forwards. R. Baggio, Inzaghi and Chiesa play just as well as Vieri and Del Piero. -What about the halfbacks? -I can only agree in part when everyone says that we have problems in the midfield. All depends on the halfbacks, on their will to sacrifice themselves. It's all right in the defence, in the attack, too. The halfbacks will need to be well prepared mentally. The French have anadvantage - the support from the fans, but this support may also create a negative influence. It can increase the psychological pressure on the players. I think that the team that wins this match will also have a great chance to win the World Cup. -You experienced a very unlucky time in your career after World Cup 94. What do you think - is this your chance for revenge? -I was sent off during the match against Norway. And after this, I always come back to this episode. For two seasons I felt that I didn't have much confidence. I've just begun to feel better after I've understood that my suspension was the price for reaching the final. Cesare Maldini called me in 1997 and told me that he hasn't forgotten about me, even though he did not invite me to the friendly matches. And so I became a candidate for the national team again. I was very glad when Maldini called me up to the World Cup as the second goalie. But then Peruzzi god injured at the end of May and here I am. -So, you are happy about your life? -Certainly! And I'll be even happier if we win against the French. Translated
by M.Spiridonova.
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