Kakuta calm as France go for gold
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Article summary
France are a team of outstanding individual talents and one of those potential stars, Gaël Kakuta, says their hard qualifying experience is helping them here.
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One point away
Chelsea FC midfielder Kakuta was among those who stood out in the stunning 3-3 draw with Spain on Wednesday that kept the pair at the helm of Group B, and left Les Mini-Bleus needing only a draw against Switzerland tonight at Antalya's World of Wonders Football Centre to reach the semi-finals in Turkey. Hot temperatures are predicted, but Kakuta believes that their experience in the Elite round, when they finished above England and Russia in Israel, will be a help as they seek to emulate France's 2004 U17 champions.
Hard task
"It was a hard period for us against such opponents as England, Russia and Israel," Kakuta told uefa.com. "We played our Elite round games in Israel and the heat affected us very much." Kakuta, who scored twice in the decisive 3-1 win against Russia in Israel, is playing in similar conditions here but there is no time for enjoying the sea or sun between games. "We can only look at the internet in the hotel lobby, chat with our mates at meals and in the corridor of our rooms. That's all."
Stars
Kakuta and co are sharing the hotel with the other seven competing nations, and he has seen plenty of players that have impressed him. "Abdülkadir Kayalı and Gökhan Töre from Turkey, Thiago and Rubén from the Spanish side," identified Kakuta.
Adapting to England
But whatever happens tonight he is rising fast a Chelsea, helping them to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season since joining from RC Lens. Kakuta, who singles out dribbling as his biggest attribute, has had no problem with homesickness. "It wasn't a problem for me to adapt to another country," said Kakuta. "My sister was living in England, so it hasn't bothered me to change country."
