ENGLAND-PARAGUAY: Coaches' Quotes
ENGLAND-PARAGUAY: Coaches' Quotes
10 June 2006
Sven-Goran ERIKSSON (ENG)
In the first half until 35-40 minutes I think we did well and played the football we should have played. We could have scored more goals. But the last few minutes of the first half and for a long time in the second we struggled to keep the ball and to come out as a team, and we gave a lot of possession to Paraguay.
Our defence was great and they didn’t have many chances. I am extremely pleased with the three points, Four years ago we started with a draw, two years ago we lost in the last minute to France and today we suffered at the end, but in football you suffer.
I know that we have to play better to win the World Cup but we will. The heat knocked us out a little but talking to the players they said it was hot like against Brazil and Nigeria in Japan four years ago. We wanted to see some fresh legs on the pitch which is why Michael Owen came off. We had difficulty keeping the ball up there and I hoped Joe Cole could be a tricky man as link between (Peter) Crouch and the midfield.
The positive is the three points – you always meet opponents who make life difficult at the start of a tournament. Costa Rica were in the game for 85 minutes against Germany, people in Europe expected Poland to win against Ecuador and they lost 2-0. First games are difficult.
We have to play 90 minutes like we did the first 35. I know perfectly if we want to win the World Cup that that is the target. I am sure we will play better and better with every game now.
Anibal RUIZ (PAR)
It took us a while to get into the game and we needed 15 minutes or so to get going. We were not able to score but while we cannot be too happy, we have to accept that we were up against a very hard team with great some individuals.
I think that from 15-20 minutes of the first half we had enough of the ball to get at them and we managed to contain them apart from that one opportunity at the start. They are a good side and we were at their level, although we could have done more in the second half. After the surprise of the early goal, I think we managed to control a very strong team who could go all the way to the final.
I told the players in the dressing room they had played a good game – but not a great game as we did not win. It was a shame we were not able to make another change in the second half because of the injury to (Delio) Toledo - we wanted to send on (Julio) Dos Santos midway through the second half.
I think we are capable of getting two good results in the next games. We changed our attitude in the second half, Humberto (Paredes) played a lot more forward and managed to keep (Steven) Gerrard quiet as well as participating more in attacks. It was like having a third forward and this is the attitude we will have from now on. Perhaps we didn’t find enough space up front to score but in general terms we are quite happy with what the team has done.
10 June 2006
Sven-Goran ERIKSSON (ENG)
In the first half until 35-40 minutes I think we did well and played the football we should have played. We could have scored more goals. But the last few minutes of the first half and for a long time in the second we struggled to keep the ball and to come out as a team, and we gave a lot of possession to Paraguay.
Our defence was great and they didn’t have many chances. I am extremely pleased with the three points, Four years ago we started with a draw, two years ago we lost in the last minute to France and today we suffered at the end, but in football you suffer.
I know that we have to play better to win the World Cup but we will. The heat knocked us out a little but talking to the players they said it was hot like against Brazil and Nigeria in Japan four years ago. We wanted to see some fresh legs on the pitch which is why Michael Owen came off. We had difficulty keeping the ball up there and I hoped Joe Cole could be a tricky man as link between (Peter) Crouch and the midfield.
The positive is the three points – you always meet opponents who make life difficult at the start of a tournament. Costa Rica were in the game for 85 minutes against Germany, people in Europe expected Poland to win against Ecuador and they lost 2-0. First games are difficult.
We have to play 90 minutes like we did the first 35. I know perfectly if we want to win the World Cup that that is the target. I am sure we will play better and better with every game now.
Anibal RUIZ (PAR)
It took us a while to get into the game and we needed 15 minutes or so to get going. We were not able to score but while we cannot be too happy, we have to accept that we were up against a very hard team with great some individuals.
I think that from 15-20 minutes of the first half we had enough of the ball to get at them and we managed to contain them apart from that one opportunity at the start. They are a good side and we were at their level, although we could have done more in the second half. After the surprise of the early goal, I think we managed to control a very strong team who could go all the way to the final.
I told the players in the dressing room they had played a good game – but not a great game as we did not win. It was a shame we were not able to make another change in the second half because of the injury to (Delio) Toledo - we wanted to send on (Julio) Dos Santos midway through the second half.
I think we are capable of getting two good results in the next games. We changed our attitude in the second half, Humberto (Paredes) played a lot more forward and managed to keep (Steven) Gerrard quiet as well as participating more in attacks. It was like having a third forward and this is the attitude we will have from now on. Perhaps we didn’t find enough space up front to score but in general terms we are quite happy with what the team has done.
posted by Kjo at
6:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home