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Signs of strain France snubs media ahead of Denmark match
Posted: Saturday June 10, 2000 01:27 PM
BRUGES, Belgium (AP) -- On the eve of their opening Euro 2000 clash, France and Denmark agree that the world champion's state of mind will have a huge impact on the outcome of the match. Judging by the French players' behavior on the eve of the game, the Danes might have a chance after all. Apparently unhappy at some of the press coverage they're getting, they refused to attend an arranged news conference on Saturday and angered a frustrated media. The impasse at the training headquarters might imply that Roger Lemerre's team isn't as relaxed as originally thought. "France has a team of great players, but their attitude may be too relaxed," said Danish defender Jan Heintze. "The pressure is on the other teams in the group and that suits us." Drawn in Group D against the world champion, tournament co-host and favorite the Netherlands and Euro 96 runner-up the Czech Republic, Denmark is widely tipped for first round elimination. But that was the forecast before the 1992 championships, when the Danes were drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Yugoslavia before going on to beat Germany 2-0 in the final. With a team packed full of international stars the French should be too strong for Denmark. "The danger for us is losing concentration, but this team has been together a long time and I really don't think that will happen to us on Sunday," said forward Youri Djorkaeff. France has also benefited from better preparation. The suspended Christophe Dugarry is France's only absentee and coach Roger Lemerre need only decide whether to field the Nicolas Anelka-Thierry Henry strikeforce that was so impressive in Tuesday's 5-1 demolition of Morocco, or stick with the lone striker strategy that saw his team top a tough qualifying group ahead of Ukraine and Russia. Despite their all round strength and confidence, the French players didn't appear very keen to talk to the media on the eve of the game. They refused to come to the arranged news conference and, when coach Lemerre arrived to talk to the reporters, they hit back by refusing to see him. Denmark, despite struggling with injuries, chatted to the media at their headquarters. Key winger Martin Joergensen, troubled with a groin strain, is in danger of missing the game in Bruges, though Brian Nielsen, Thomas Helveg and Jon Dahl Tomasson have come through treatment and look set to start. "This injury situation is normal for us, we're used to it," said coach Bo Johansson. The Danes are quietly confident of creating another surprise by qualifying for the quarterfinals. "We don't regard ourselves as underdogs. Our goal is to reach the next phase," said veteran goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who senses echoes of Denmark's 1992 triumph. "Of course the situation is different now but the atmosphere in the team is a bit similar." Johansson said his players couldn't wait to play the world champions but would not be overawed by them. "Everything is so very exciting," he said. "We're trying to be relaxed and think about other things but everything always come back to soccer. "We have respect for France, they're the world champions. But the respect is not too big. We're certainly not afraid." France said it must go into the match with the right attitude. "Denmark will pose a lot of problems. They have some impressive players and are a real fighting team," Zinedine Zidane said during the buildup to the game. "They were impressive in the World Cup and it will be a tight match." "We are not going out to win 3-0 or 4-0. Obviously we don't have an inferiority complex but more importantly we definitely don't have one of superiority," the Juventus star said. Previous matches between the countries have augured well for the winners. Michel Platini scored the only goal of the match when France beat Denmark on its way to lifting the European crown on home soil in 1984. France also beat Denmark 2-1 during its victorious 1998 World Cup campaign. In 1992, with Platini in charge of the French, the Danes pulled off a shock 2-1 win to eliminate the French before winning the cup. Likely lineups: France - Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc, Bixente Lizarazu; Didier Deschamps (cap.), Emmanuel Petit, Youri Djorkaeff, Robert Pires, Zinedine Zidane; Thierry Henry. Denmark - Peter Schmeichel (cap.); Thomas Helveg, Rene Henriksen, Martin Laursen, Jan Heintze; Allan Nielsen, Stig Tofting, Jesper Gronkjaer, Brian Nielsen; Ebbe Sand, Jon Dahl Tomasson. Referee: Gunter Benko, Austria.
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