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France has problems up front
Striker Henry could miss next match with strained ankle
Posted: Monday June 29, 1998 05:06 PM
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Henry (left) might miss Friday's match with a sprained ankle (AP) |
CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) --
The French were licking their wounds Monday after a bruising battle against
Paraguay
and could only hope their injury list would shrink by the time they face Italy in the
quarterfinals. Forward Thierry Henry, who has scored three goals,
strained his left ankle during the 1-0 overtime win against Paraguay
Sunday. It was unclear whether he will recover in time for Friday's match
at the Stade de France in St. Denis. "We're certainly worried and
we'll have to look at it again in 48 hours," said French coach Aime Jacquet
Monday. "It gets to you, especially now that the stakes are getting
progressively higher." The 20-year-old Henry, France's World Cup
revelation so far, had to celebrate France's Golden Goal win with a huge
ice pack strapped to his ankle. Midfielder Emmanuel Petit had to be
pulled out of the game because the pain in his hamstring got progressively
worse. Doctors will work on the strain in an attempt to get him ready too.
Meanwhile, the torn hamstring of Christophe Dugarry, who scored
France's World Cup opening goal, is healing very slowly, making it ever
more likely he will be out for the rest of the tournament even if France
makes it to the finals. The only positive news is that star
playmaker Zinedine Zidane will be coming back after a two-match suspension
for kicking a fallen opponent. "We expect a lot from him and he can
make the difference," said French captain Didier Deschamps, who plays with
Zidane together on Italian champion Juventus Turin. About half of France's
top lineup plays in Italy. After celebrating Laurent Blanc's decider
in the 114th minute against Paraguay, the French were trying to catch their
breath Monday. "We sorely feel the fatigue," said the matchwinner.
"I'm tired after a normal match. Now we have spent so much more energy,"
said Deschamps. "We were hoping for an easy match against Paraguay
and instead we had to go through all this suffering," the team captain
said. "All this speaks in Italy's favor." Paraguay's staunch defense
had the French team running ragged for 114 minutes before finally caving in
to the relentless pressure. "Now we have five days to recuperate,"
Deschamps noted. "We have to forget everything nd get to the next
match," said Blanc.
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