In 2005 Juventuz was placed under new management and received a complete
makeover. Unfortunately this also meant that all of the content, some of
lasting value, was removed. This archive is a means to bring the site back
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section, the club section, the
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are still online, as well as the
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In short, browse around and you'll find a lot to discover!
If you are interested in the history behind Juventuz, you ought to see
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page!
Thuram : French Toast
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| World champion Lilian Thuram
is a highly respected professional at Parma |
Ask any coach who they would like as their right back, money
no object, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't
choose Lilian Thuram. The star of World Cup '98, he has everything
a coach would require from a full-back: pace, power, strength
and tactical awareness that sets him apart from the rest. So
it's no surprise that every year, the Parma defender is transfer
target of all the big European clubs. Despite overtures from
Real Madrid amongst others, Parma has effectively decided not
to let its defensive jewel go. But time is running out for Thuram
- if he's to win the big club prizes, a move this summer may
be his only hope.
Two days before the friendly match against Portugal, Lilian
Thuram is his usual calm self, in stark contrast with the flurry
of speculation concerning his future. He prefers to concentrate
on his season drawing to a close, on claiming fourth place in
the Italian league and the all-important Champions League qualifying
spot that comes with it.
France lost 2-1 in Spain - their first
defeat since Euro 2000. What happened?
I didn't see the match against Spain. I only heard about it
afterwards. Anyway, I don't believe that there was anything
tragic in the result. We were playing against one of the best
teams in Europe. People talked to me about the Spanish being
aggressive, but that was normal, they were playing for their
lives in that match. Every team is ultra-motivated against the
French national side because we are the world reference. Against
Germany that motivation was taken too far - we were subjected
to gratuitous violence. The referee didn't protect the players
or the game of football in that match. But losing a match is
not always drama, since it often contributes to a team's education.
It is what allows us to improve.
France will contest the Confederations
Cup (30th May - 10th June in South Korea and Japan) without
its key Italian and Spanish based players. Is this a problem?
It's always a good thing when a team is allowed to evolve without
its usual members. The group must be enlarged to thrive. It
is very important the young players, who show the same hunger
we have, get their chance to learn in a competitive environment.
The aim is not to renew 30, 50 or 60% of the team but to ensure
that the squad is more competitive during the next World Cup
- with or without integrating new elements.
Do you think you are capable of occupying
the central defensive role for France, as you have been doing
for Parma?
Everyone knows very well that I would prefer to play in the
middle. But it's Roger Lemerre who decides. It's his role to
evaluate what's best for the team.
Your manager has mooted the possibility
of moving to a three-man defence. What's your opinion on that?
It is normal to question ourselves. Up to now the French team
has achieved its victories by sticking to a tried and tested
tactical philosophy. To change that system only a year from
the World Cup could be dangerous. To win titles, a solid defensive
base is paramount.
How do you look back on this season with
Parma, for which you held such high ambitions?
Why deny it? Parma has endured a catastrophic year. We were
aiming for the title - I really thought we were capable of winning
it - but it was an illusion. We are not even sure of achieving
the fourth place necessary to qualify for the Champions League
and if we don't get there, I will be devastated. Even winning
the Italian Cup would in no way compensate for the disappointment
of this season. We have to be realistic. I have won a World
Cup and a European Championship but the title has eluded me.
There are all sorts of emotions in winning the Scudetto - never
winning it is hard to accept. I confess too that I'm currently
going through my worst period since I arrived in Italy.
Who do you predict will be the Italian
champions?
I think that Roma will do it thanks to the points advantage
they have conserved throughout the season. Roma is a great team
made up of mature players who have grown together for several
reasons. On the other hand there is no room for error because
Juventus possess a winning culture.
As always, the big European clubs are
showing interest in you. But Parma are staking a £25m
price on your head. What can you add?
For the moment I am Parma player and I have four more years
on my contract with the club. We will sit down and talk at the
end of the season, but I have nothing more to say on the subject.
My only current pre-occupation is to keep on playing football.
It is true that I had great expectations with Parma. But the
fact that I have won nothing will not kill me. If I have stayed
a long time at this club it is because I believed that it was
worth it. Finally, I'll remind you that I am not the only one
to decide my future. I don't hold all the cards.
This article is entitled "French Toast", taken from
Champions
League, issue 15, 2001. The images are not original.
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