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Morocco's Hadji happy to play in pain
Posted: Tuesday June 09, 1998 07:31 PM
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Moustafa Hadji insisted that a
broken right foot would not keep him from playing against Norway (Clive Brunskill/Allsport) |
MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) -- Morocco's opening game will be a painful affair for Moustafa Hadji, but the flamboyant playmaker insisted on Tuesday that a broken right foot would not keep him from playing against Norway in the World Cup.
"It still hurts, especially when I take a shot. But I just have to get on with it," the French-born midfielder said with a broad grin after a training session at Montpellier's Stade La Mosson ahead of Wednesday's match.
"I'm just glad after all the preparations that we're finally going to play. This is a big game and I'm sure I'm going to be able to play at my best," he said.
He said he would be expecting a substantial shot of local painkiller from the team doctor.
Morocco coach Henri Michel, who took France to third place in the 1986 World Cup, will not name his starting lineup until match day.
He said his choices were not constrained by injury despite the problems with Hadji, and with captain and sweeper Noureddine Naybet, who returned to full training only last week.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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