Did you change tactics when Zinedine Zidane was ruled out?
Well, Zidane is their most important player, and it certainly made our job easier with him out the way. But with or without Zidane, France are a great team. We just tried to stay as motivated and focused as ever. Physically, mentally and tactically we were ready, we knew we could do it – and when we did, we weren’t surprised. Senegal did surprise a lot of people with their tactical maturity, a part of the game where African sides have often been found wanting in the past. Do you agree? You just have to look at what’s happening in today’s game: the best African players no longer play in Africa. Most ply their trade in Europe and many for the biggest clubs. Take Senegal: before the World Cup our whole side were playing in France, many of us had came through the French youth system. African football still has a way to go in tactical terms, but it’s true we are catching up with the Europeans because our players are coming to play in Europe at an earlier age, and that makes all the differen
