Post by Taxigirl on Jun 11, 2004 9:12:27 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3792841.stm
By Phil McNulty
Our man with England
Ashley Cole insists England will not run out of steam this time around if they reach the later stages of their Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal.
England's 2002 World Cup ended in disappointment against Brazil in the searing heat and humidity of Japan.
Cole said: "We know what happened in Japan and we have learned our lesson. It's hot out here in Portugal but we are a lot fitter than we were in Japan.
"We have done a lot more running and we feel we are ready for this."
England constantly faded in the second half of matches in Japan and were undermined by injuries to captain David Beckham and Michael Owen.
Two years later, Cole is in defiant mood - and even issued a light-hearted threat to Arsenal team-mate Robert Pires, an opponent with France on Saturday.
He said: "I've told him if I get near him I'm going to kick him."
But Cole insisted England would be making a fatal mistake if they tried to upset his other club colleague Thierry Henry.
He said: "If you upset him he's going to play better. Someone upset him at Blackburn this season and he just said 'OK' and scored right away from a free-kick.
"I have told the lads not to upset him - that's the worst thing you can do."
However, Cole declared England will not worry about the French superstars and concentrate on their own game.
He said: "Thierry is fantastic. I've never seen anyone like him, but we are trying not to focus on them and think about our game and what our best players can do.
"We have to have belief in ourselves and the players are doing that. We've got great players and on the big occasions they usually do well."
The 23-year-old claims he has yet to produce his best for England - but hopes this competition is the time to deliver.
"I don't think I have played as well as I can for Arsenal, but hopefully in this tournament I can do that," he added.
"The way I have played for Arsenal has given me a lot of confidence."
By Phil McNulty
Our man with England
Ashley Cole insists England will not run out of steam this time around if they reach the later stages of their Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal.
England's 2002 World Cup ended in disappointment against Brazil in the searing heat and humidity of Japan.
Cole said: "We know what happened in Japan and we have learned our lesson. It's hot out here in Portugal but we are a lot fitter than we were in Japan.
"We have done a lot more running and we feel we are ready for this."
England constantly faded in the second half of matches in Japan and were undermined by injuries to captain David Beckham and Michael Owen.
Two years later, Cole is in defiant mood - and even issued a light-hearted threat to Arsenal team-mate Robert Pires, an opponent with France on Saturday.
He said: "I've told him if I get near him I'm going to kick him."
But Cole insisted England would be making a fatal mistake if they tried to upset his other club colleague Thierry Henry.
He said: "If you upset him he's going to play better. Someone upset him at Blackburn this season and he just said 'OK' and scored right away from a free-kick.
"I have told the lads not to upset him - that's the worst thing you can do."
However, Cole declared England will not worry about the French superstars and concentrate on their own game.
He said: "Thierry is fantastic. I've never seen anyone like him, but we are trying not to focus on them and think about our game and what our best players can do.
"We have to have belief in ourselves and the players are doing that. We've got great players and on the big occasions they usually do well."
The 23-year-old claims he has yet to produce his best for England - but hopes this competition is the time to deliver.
"I don't think I have played as well as I can for Arsenal, but hopefully in this tournament I can do that," he added.
"The way I have played for Arsenal has given me a lot of confidence."