Conte Claims 'Hagi Tried to Break My Leg'
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
GEEL, Belgium (June 26, 2000 12:10 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Italy midfielder Antonio Conte accused Romania's Gheorghe Hagi on Monday of trying to break his leg during their Euro 2000 quarterfinal.
Conte was the victim of a foul by Hagi in the 59th minute of
the clash in Brussels on Saturday.
He was stretchered off the pitch with torn ligaments in his
right ankle and is out of the tournament.
"Anyone who plays professional football knows how easy it
is to break an opponent's leg," Conte said at Italy's training
camp. "His foul was premeditated. He intended to hurt me. I
have no doubt the foul was meant to break my leg."
Hagi, who was booked for the challenge and later sent off
for a second offence, apologized to Conte after the match.
But the Juventus midfielder said that meant nothing.
"I hope he reflects when he sees the replay," said Conte,
who is on crutches and could miss the start of Juve's Champions
League campaign in September.
He said he would stay with the Italian squad for the rest of
the tournament and watch their semifinal against the Netherlands
on Thursday from the bench.
"If you kept dwelling on injuries you'd give up," said Conte, who missed almost all of the 1996-97 season with torn
knee ligaments.
"I hope my lasting memory from this tounament will be a
victory in the final rather than my injury."
