How Sharp Is Cole?
Gazza Fights Back
'Ticketless Will Travel'
Gould On Tunisia
Owls Hit Back At Big Ron
Milan Sack Coach Capello
Juve And Real Teams
Euro Cup Final News
Premiership News
Divisions Two & Three
Division One News
Scots' Big TV Deal
Ekoku Out For Nigeria
‘French Lack Passion' - Jacquet
Savo In For Yugoslavs
Mandela: ‘We'll Win World Cup'
Bollocks!
The Knowledge
TV And Radio
Trivia
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Wednesday 20 May 1998
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 News 6 
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WORLD CUP UPDATE
Only 21 Days To Go!
‘WE'RE NOT PASSIONATE ENOUGH'
SAYS FRENCH BOSS
Report by Harry Pratt
THINK Glenn's boys at Bisham Abbey have a problem or two with the hysteria surrounding a certain star's eating, smoking and drinking habits? Well at least someone, somewhere is showing interest in the team's general welfare.
Because misplaced and misguided as the UK tabloids are in getting into a lather over Gazza, the picture the other side of the 22-mile pond separating us and France is rather more tranquil. So peaceful, in fact, that the French FA even produced a tongue-in-cheek television advert along the lines of 'no-one likes us and we don't care' in an effort to stoke up the odd flickering flame of passion within a country renowned for such behaviour.
We know the French manager Aime Jacquet detests true class when he has it on tap - as the Premiership's most-celebrated foreign sons, Cantona and Ginola discovered - and that the population prefer to chuck boule rather than kick ball.
However when Monsieur Jacquet and his players have to plead for the full backing of the supporters, it begins to put the sorry England saga into perspective. The French have not hosted the World Cup for 61 years, have snapped up all the tickets and yet are apparently apathetically indifferent to their own team. Jacquet explained: "We're behind most other countries when it comes to passion and enthusiasm but maybe this summer we will be the turning point in that respect. It could be the start of something new."
How does Jacquet rate the countries planning to come, see and conquer during next month's invasion? Like this, actually:
Brazil: "They play champagne football, they have spectacular style and a collection of wonderful individual talents who make them capable of producing the surprise that can turn a match at any point."
England: "We saw a great England team in Le Tournoi last summer - and in my opinion we saw they are one of the really big favourites."
Argentina: "The longer they go in a tournament, the more dangerous they become. They're not the greatest Argentine side but they will get stronger and stronger."
Italy: "They are always in the Finals and everyone always think they will beat them but they go and win. They tend to have one player who can turns things for them."
Germany: "Again they get so dangerous once they come to the event and the players get together. The football is never spectacular but always effective."
Nigeria: "They are making so much progress and will be very dangerous to the big countries. I think the fact they have so many internationals playing with European clubs shows how good they are."
And finally France: "I feel as a team we are ready. We experimented last year but this year we have been meeting every month for training camps and are very well prepared."
Meanwhile French striker Thierry Henry echoed his coach's call for more passion, saying: We have the right players to win the World Cup, but everyone must pull together and the same goes for the fans, they must get behind us 100 per cent. They are very important and they will make a significant impact on the side's chances of success."
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EKOKU OUT, NEW QPR KEEPER
IN FOR NIGERIA
WIMBLEDON striker Efan Ekoku has admitted his dream of playing in the World Cup is in tatters after Nigeria's national coach Bora Milutinovic informed him he would not be in his final 22-man squad. The former Norwich forward said: I've been in contact with the coach and I'm on standby. But it doesn't look like I'll be going unless one or two players get injured. I'm very disappointed as it might be my last chance to go to the World Cup.
Ekoku, 30, had an ankle operation in February which restricted him to only a couple of substitute appearances at the end of the season and added: "The coach was only appointed in January and has hardly seen me play. He is worried about my lack of fitness.
But new QPR goalkeeper Ademola Bankole, who has just joined the West London side from Crewe, has been included in Milutinovic's provisional squad after a four-year absence from the international scene. Bankole, who was a member of Nigeria's 1994 World Cup squad when they reached the second round, dropped out of the international scene after leaving his country's top side Shooting Stars to come to England. Nigeria are in the same World Cup group as Spain, Paraguay and 1994 semi-finalists Bulgaria.
‘WE'LL SHOCK WORLD' SAYS MANDELA
NELSON MANDELA treated the South African World Cup team to tea and cake at his home yesterday afternoon and wished them good luck for the tournament which starts in three weeks' time. South Africa, who face hosts France, Denmark and Saudi Arabia in the group stage next month, met their President, who said: "On behalf of the entire country, I say to you: God's speed. I don't have the slightest doubt you will return with honours.
The squad will leave South Africa after playing a friendly match against Zambia in Johannesburg today and team captain and Leeds defender Lucas Radebe responded to the President's send-off by saying: "We will do the best we can, also for you."
And Mandela cooled down reports of tension after coach Philippe Troussier named 17 foreign-based players for the finals, which reportedly led to a showdown at the weekend between a newspaper reporter and Troussier. The President said: "There have been some problems, but I believe they have been overcome."
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MILOSEVIC HEADS YUGOSLAVIAN OLD BOYS' NETWORK
YUGOSLAVIA coach Slobodan Santrac picked Aston Villa reject Savo Milosevic in his provisional World Cup squad and then defended his decision to stick by several older players for the finals. Santrac, who masterminded his country's path to France via a play-off, has selected six players, including Milosevic, who featured in qualification for the 1992 European Championship. Three of those also played in Yugoslavia's run to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990.
"I decided to place my trust in players who have confirmed their form and their value over a longer period, said the coach. Among the 30-something veterans from Italia 90 and Euro 92 are captain Dragan Stojkovic and AC Milan's Dejan Savicevic as well as two more stars from Italy - sweeper Sinisa Mihajlovic and midfielder Vladimir Jugovic. Santrac has also picked Real Madrid's prolific goalscorer Predrag Mijatovic who could pair up with new Real Zaragoza signing Milosevic.
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