LISBON, 9 June 2004 — Striker Michael Owen believes France are the best team in the world but says England have no fears about playing the champions in their opening Euro 2004 Group B match on Sunday.
“We’ll show them plenty of respect but we’re not in awe of them and we’re not scared of them,” Owen told a news conference yesterday.
“They may have some fantastic individuals but we’re not going to build them up higher than they should be.
“You can score a goal against any team, especially with the quality we’ve got in this squad. They’ve not conceded for hours and hours, but we’ve got people up front and in midfield who can hurt them.
“I think they have one of, if not the best defense in the world...but we’re not going to sit back. We’re going to get after them.
“When you’re an international player you’ve reached a standard where you’d fall by the wayside if you were lining up at the national anthem, looking over you shoulder at them and thinking ‘I’d love to be like them’.
“It just doesn’t happen. We’re happy with our lot.” Owen backed England’s central defenders to deal with the threat from Thierry Henry, the Premier League’s top scorer last season when he fired Arsenal to the title.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for Thierry Henry,” Owen said. “He’s probably taken striking to a new level...I don’t think there’s anyone like him in the world in last season’s form.
“But I’m conscious not to over-hype them up more than they deserve. In my opinion, they’re better than (world champions) Brazil, I think they’re the best team in the world at the moment.
“But I’m so confident in our players and the likes of Sol Campbell, John Terry and whoever may come in if anyone is injured.
“I think they’re more than good enough to hold their own and do more than just stop Henry or David Trezeguet scoring.”
Behind the scenes, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson also appears to be trying to take the mystique out of the 1998 world champions by stressing the familiarity of those facing England.
“The manager was suggesting today that 10 of their players could be present or past teammates of our players,” Owen said. “We know them very well and I’ve played against a lot of them.” The top three Premier League clubs are well-represented in Santini’s squad.
England defenders Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are likely to face Arsenal teammates Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and possibly Sylvain Wiltord, who is leaving Highbury.
