ACTUALITE |
29.06.2003
Finalists plan Foe tribute
France and Cameroon will pay tribute to Marc-Vivien Foe, who died suddenly on Thursday, when they meet in the Confederations Cup final in Paris on Sunday.
The 28-year-old midfielder collapsed on the pitch during the second half of Thursday´s 1-0 semi-final win over Colombia in Lyon and his tragic death has rendered the event meaningless in sporting terms.
But the Cameroon players, who will all wear white shirts bearing Foe´s name, are playing the final out of respect for their team-mate.
And holders France, whose players wept before their 3-2 semi-final win over Turkey, will also remember a player who was a 2002 French championship winner with Olympique Lyon
However, questions will be asked of both sides´ mental approach and level of motivation for a game destined to offer only a hollow victory for the winners.
"We will pull ourselves together, we will try to win in memory of Marco," said Cameroon skipper Rigobert Song.
"Seeing the reaction of the French players I think it´s better to play because together we will make it a celebration of football."
Cameroon´s mourning squad should be joined by striker Samuel Eto´o, their match-winner against Brazil.
He returned to Spanish club Real Mallorca in order to play Saturday´s King´s Cup final against Recreativo Huelva.
Eto´o is due in Paris early on Sunday, assuming he does not pick up an injury on Saturday, and may play some of the final against France.
Emotions will also be running high among the French players, particularly Foe´s former Lyon team-mate, goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who played against Turkey.
France coach Jacques Santini, who coached Foe at Lyon when they won the league, is all too well aware of the delicate nature of Sunday´s game.
"We already know that the mental side of things is important in top-level football - in this game it will be particularly important," said Santini.
"We´ll have to see with the players, we will have to look at the psychological approach," he said. "Perhaps some of them will not feel up to it."
Defender Mikael Silvestre suggested it might be better to simply share the trophy.
"Whatever happens this Confederations Cup will remain marked by the death of this great player," Silvestre said.
"There will be a minute´s silence, a black armband, the match will be for him. Maybe we share the trophy between the two nations?"
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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