Post by Salem6 on May 24, 2004 9:27:33 GMT
By Julien Pretot
PARIS, May 24 (Reuters) - France's Robert Pires and Thierry Henry believe that facing England is an ideal way for the holders to start their title defence at Euro 2004.
France, champions at Euro 2000, meet England in a Group B opener on June 13 in Lisbon with the two Arsenal team mates believing there can be no room for complacency.
"It's always tough to play against them. It's always physical and sometimes I have to admit it's hard," said Pires of facing English opposition.
Looking back to their calamitous World Cup defence, Pires told reporters at France's training ground last week: "France must avoid the trap they fell into in 2002, when we thought it would be easy. With England, it probably won't be. "But to start a tournament, there is nothing better. It will mean we'll have to get things right from the start."
Alongside the physical challenged posed by Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, Pires said: "They also have very technical players like David Beckham, who can change the course of a game. That is why we have be very careful."
Henry, the premier league's top scorer and whose 30 goals helped Arsenal to a second league title in three seasons, also believes England will provide an early wake-up call.
"For me, England have a very strong side," said the striker, who will also test Switzerland and Croatia in France's bid to reach the quarter-finals. "If we lose the first game against them, it will make things awkward because we'll be obliged to win our remaining two games."
CROSSING SWORDS
Nine of the 23 players in coach Jacques Santini's squad play in the premier league -- four at Arsenal, three at Chelsea and two at Manchester United -- making the English top flight the best represented league in the squad.
Henry will probably tangle with England's Arsenal defenders Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, while Claude Makelele and Chelsea club mate Frank Lampard might cross swords in midfield.
"We'll meet players that we're used to seeing all the year round," Pires said.
"But we'll have to forget about that. On the pitch there will be no friends.
Henry said: "It will probably look like a derby because so many French players play in England."
Henry also believes that France's Arsenal players, who include midfielder Patrick Vieira, will arrive in better shape to defend their European crown than they did two years ago for a world title defence which ended at the group stage.
"The difference is that in 2002 we had just done the League and FA Cup double with Arsenal and we'd had no time to rest before the tournament," he said.
"I arrived in South Korea very tired and had a pain in my knee. This year, we were crowned champions a long time ago and we are in better shape," Henry warned.
"It is going to make a big difference."
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=5230695§ion=news
PARIS, May 24 (Reuters) - France's Robert Pires and Thierry Henry believe that facing England is an ideal way for the holders to start their title defence at Euro 2004.
France, champions at Euro 2000, meet England in a Group B opener on June 13 in Lisbon with the two Arsenal team mates believing there can be no room for complacency.
"It's always tough to play against them. It's always physical and sometimes I have to admit it's hard," said Pires of facing English opposition.
Looking back to their calamitous World Cup defence, Pires told reporters at France's training ground last week: "France must avoid the trap they fell into in 2002, when we thought it would be easy. With England, it probably won't be. "But to start a tournament, there is nothing better. It will mean we'll have to get things right from the start."
Alongside the physical challenged posed by Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, Pires said: "They also have very technical players like David Beckham, who can change the course of a game. That is why we have be very careful."
Henry, the premier league's top scorer and whose 30 goals helped Arsenal to a second league title in three seasons, also believes England will provide an early wake-up call.
"For me, England have a very strong side," said the striker, who will also test Switzerland and Croatia in France's bid to reach the quarter-finals. "If we lose the first game against them, it will make things awkward because we'll be obliged to win our remaining two games."
CROSSING SWORDS
Nine of the 23 players in coach Jacques Santini's squad play in the premier league -- four at Arsenal, three at Chelsea and two at Manchester United -- making the English top flight the best represented league in the squad.
Henry will probably tangle with England's Arsenal defenders Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, while Claude Makelele and Chelsea club mate Frank Lampard might cross swords in midfield.
"We'll meet players that we're used to seeing all the year round," Pires said.
"But we'll have to forget about that. On the pitch there will be no friends.
Henry said: "It will probably look like a derby because so many French players play in England."
Henry also believes that France's Arsenal players, who include midfielder Patrick Vieira, will arrive in better shape to defend their European crown than they did two years ago for a world title defence which ended at the group stage.
"The difference is that in 2002 we had just done the League and FA Cup double with Arsenal and we'd had no time to rest before the tournament," he said.
"I arrived in South Korea very tired and had a pain in my knee. This year, we were crowned champions a long time ago and we are in better shape," Henry warned.
"It is going to make a big difference."
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=5230695§ion=news