|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Superb striker Henry's offense leading French at Euro 2000
Posted: Monday June 19, 2000 09:45 AM
WAVRE, Belgium (AP) -- It's often been said that France won the World Cup without a true forward. Thanks to Thierry Henry the same won't be said of Roger Lemerre's team if the French go all the way at Euro 2000. France goes into its third Group D match, against the Netherlands on Wednesday, already assured of a place in the quarterfinals. Henry might not play in Amsterdam -- Lemerre has indicated that he might rest key players -- but the Arsenal striker's goals in wins over Denmark and the Czech Republic have gone a long way to seal the world champion's place in the last eight. Chosen as man of the match after both games, the 22-year-old's performances are being praised from inside and outside the French camp. "Right now he is playing at full throttle," Lemerre said. "It seems that he has really matured and I am not surprised because he has a high quality coach at Arsenal who has guided him to the top level. At the moment he is exceptional." Dutch winger Marc Overmars, who could come up against his Arsenal teammate in Amsterdam, is also impressed with Henry's Euro 2000 exploits. "You have to be open to new ideas and Henry is always ready to listen and learn," Overmars said. "That is rare among modern players." The co-host has also booked a place in the quarterfinals but needs to win in Amsterdam to win the group. Henry hasn't spoken with Overmars or Dennis Bergkamp, his other Dutch teammate at Arsenal, about Wednesday's match but admits to some gentle ribbing with Edgar Davids, his old friend at Juventus. Meanwhile, Overmars has a selection tip for France. "If I was Roger Lemerre I would always start with Henry and Nicolas Anelka because speed is paramount in modern soccer," he said. Indeed, electric pace was key to Henry's goals against Denmark and the Czech Republic: on both occasions he sprinted behind central defenders, made to look static, before slipping the ball past the keeper. The former Monaco and Juventus player seems to save his best goalscoring form for the big occasions. Five of Henry's seven international goals for France have come in the finals of the World Cup or European Championships. In one season at Monaco, he scored only four league goals but seven in the European Champions League. "It's true that I like big competitions," Henry said. "In friendly matches I know that a defeat is not important, that it doesn't mean lost points or elimination. On the other hand when there is a real competition I feel at the top." Henry, who also set up Youri Djorkaeff's match-winning goal in the 2-1 win against the Czechs, has completed a remarkable return to form after an 18-month absence from the French team. Henry's three goals made him France's top scorer at the last World Cup but the Paris-born player's career quickly went off the rails. A poor season at Monaco was followed by an unhappy spell in Turin, where he played in a deeper midfield position. It was Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, Henry's former boss at Monaco, who persuaded the player to switch to a central striking role and Henry says he is a far better player than in 1998. "Then, I was practically making my debut for France," he said. "I have developed mentally. I am much tougher." Henry trained behind closed doors with his French teammates on Monday. "I have never felt so good," he said. "I am playing at my top level and have the impression that if I attempt something I have never tried before, it will still succeed."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
