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Italy's Vieri eager to face France
Posted: Wednesday July 01, 1998 03:32 PM
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Vieri has scored in all four of Italy's matches (AP) |
SENLIS, France (AP) --
Italy's newest
star Christian Vieri said Wednesday he was looking forward to taking
advantage of his "magic moment" and help his team defeat France in Friday's
quarterfinal match. However the 24-year-old center forward, who has
scored five World Cup goals, said he was giving priority to Italy's
fortunes more than to the possibility of clinching the prestigious title of
top striker. "The main goal is that Italy goes on in the tournament. If
I can continue my scoring streak the better," Vieri said at Italy's
training camp. "I want to take advantage of this magic moment, but I'm not
obsessed with the strikers standings." By scoring in each of the
four World Cup matches played by Italy so far, the strongly built striker
of Atletico Madrid is co-leader in the strikers standings with Argentine
Gabriel Batistuta. Vieri is one goal short of former Italian World
Cup heroes Paolo Rossi and Salvatore Schillaci who were the top World Cup
strikers in 1982 and 1990 with six goals each. Vieri, who grew up in
Australia where his father was player-coach with a local soccer team, has
been overshadowing original team stars Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto
Baggio with his explosive start in the competition. He had scored
only two goals in eight matches on the Italian team before traveling to
France '98. "I'm tranquil, whatever happens to me. This is my real
strength," Vieri said. Vieri said he had overcome a sore muscle
problem, which forced him to skip a tuneup game Tuesday. "I'm fit,
in good form," Vieri said. "I'm ready to play France." Vieri is
expected to lead Italy's attack in a pair with Del Piero. Both will be
facing a well-known opponent, Zinedine Zidane. Vieri, a teammate of
Del Piero and Zidane at Juventus in 1997 before moving to the Spanish
league, said he considered the French midfielder "the best world player in
his role." "He's a great player, and a great man off the field. We are
friends. He's very important for the French team. I hope he can't play at
his best against us," Vieri said. Vieri considered France "a tough
team with a strong defense and an attack not as good as Italy's."
"We may lose against a great opponent. It would be no shame losing to
France. But I'm confident we will get through." He said he was
taking advantage of coach Cesare Maldini's tactics, giving Italian forwards
the chance of fast counterattacks. Italy has scored eight goals and
allowed three in four World Cup matches.
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