Zidane Wants More
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
TURIN, Italy (Aug 12, 1998 - 10:36 EDT) - Not content with the World Cup, Juventus midfielder Zinedine Zidane is now setting his sights on European Cup glory.
Zidane, whose two early goals ripped the heart out of Brazil in last month's final, is training with the Italian champions this week. And he is clearly looking forward to the new season.
"I can't deny that something changes after you win the World Cup and score two goals in the final, but I have to say that I feel exactly the same as I did before," he told the Corriere dello Sport.
"When I arrived at Juventus, I had to work hard to become what I am, and winning the World Cup was partly down to the work I do here.
"But now I'm back training, just like last year and the year before that. I've already put the World Cup behind me now, and I just want to do well and to go on winning -- something important like the European Cup, especially as I've lost the last two finals."
He went on: "It's true, there will be more responsibility on me next season as a world champion, but I only hope that I can do more than I have done in the past, both for myself and for Juventus."
The coming season will be another gruelling test for his side, with all their major rivals having been active on the transfer market.
"We know what we have to do and we'll do it even more intensely than before because otherwise we won't win anything," he said.
"And we all know that the other clubs are stronger than they were last season. Parma, Lazio, Inter and AC Milan have really improved a lot.
"It's going to be a great competition."
Zidane, who dismissed talk of doping in Italian football, also spared a thought for his teammate Alessandro Del Piero, who came back from injury to have a miserable World Cup with Italy.
"Ale got injured just before the finals, just like I did before Euro 96, and when he came back things didn't go well for him," Zidane said.
"But he's still young and he's still got time -- time enough even to win the next World Cup."
