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| May 23, 2002 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 10,1423 |
Veteran Djorkaeff excels but young Cisse catches eye
IBUSUKI (Japan), May 22: Veteran Youri Djorkaeff scored a hat trick in France’s 5-1 victory over Japanese first division Urawa Reds in a World Cup warm-up on Wednesday, but it was young striker Djibrill Cisse who caught the eye.
Cisse underlined his potential by setting up two goals and scoring a third for the world champions in an 80-minute game played in heavy rain in the coastal resort of Ibusuki.
France were beaten 2-1 by Belgium in a warm-up last weekend at the Stade de France.
“But more than the result itself I wanted to have all the squad in the best possible physical condition to face South Korea on Sunday,” Lemerre said.
The France coach had hinted Thierry Henry might play on Wednesday but he continued to rest the Arsenal striker because of a knee injury.
The world champions were also without defenders Philippe Christanval and Lilian Thuram and midfielder Alain Boghossian, who are all unfit. Playmaker Zinedine Zidane arrived from France just two hours before the kick-off and did not play.
Injury jinx
England’s midfield jinx struck again on Wednesday when Danny Murphy picked up a foot injury in training.
The Liverpool player will have a bone scan in the next 48 hours to determine the extent of the damage and joins captain David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer on the treatment table at England’s pre-World Cup training camp.
An English FA statement said: “A few minutes before the end of today’s training session Danny Murphy landed awkwardly on his left foot and felt a sudden, sharp pain.
The England team doctor has been in contact with Liverpool to inform them of Murphy’s condition. His club team mate Steven Gerrard, also a midfielder, will miss the World Cup with a groin injury.
Left back Ashley Cole, who played in the 1-1 against South Korea on Tuesday, has also picked up a knee ligament injury but officials said it was not serious.
In Zidane’s absence, Djorkaeff was the playmaker and the Bolton midfielder shone.
Djorkaeff volleyed home a fine cross from the right by Cisse at the far post for France’s second goal in the 34th minute after Parma’s Johan Micoud had opened the scoring thanks to a fine pass by Cisse in the 24th.
The French put the result beyond doubt when Cisse outpaced the Urawa Reds’ defence five minutes into the second half.
In the second half, Lemerre made five changes as he wanted to look at as many players as possible just nine days before the World Cup’s opening match against Senegal.
Outclassing their opponents, the world champions added two more goals from Djorkaeff, before the Urawa Reds saved their pride with a late goal by striker Masahiro Fukuda from the penalty spot.
France are to stay in Ibusuki until Saturday before flying to Seoul where they will face World Cup co-hosts South Korea in their last warm-up game on Sunday.— Reuters
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