FIFA centenary match: European champions France and World Cup holders Brazil have snubbed FIFA by refusing to limit substitutions in tonight's match in Stade de France to mark the centenary of world soccer's ruling body.
France coach Jacques Santini, keen to avoid injuries less than a month before Euro 2004, said he had struck an agreement with Brazil counterpart Carlos Alberto Parreira to allow each team to use more than the usual three substitutes permitted.
"FIFA wanted to have a normal match with only three substitutes allowed. They put the pressure on," Santini said at France's Clairefontaine training camp. "But taking into account the context of the match, we coaches agreed to allow the use of more replacements. When you come to this time of the season, you must be careful about everything."
Santini did not specify how many substitutes each team would use but said "most of the bench will be able to play". He is desperate to avoid losing a key player through injury before France start the defence of their European title in Portugal against England on June 13th.
"This is an important and prestigious match. The kind of one no player wants to let go. So it can turn out to be dangerous," he said. "What we must keep in mind is to be ready on June 8th when we will leave for Portugal. So, we won't take any risks. We will field those who are ready to play."
Parreira shares Santini's concerns as Brazil have an important 2006 World Cup qualifier at home to arch-rivals Argentina on June 2nd.
The match is being billed as Brazil's chance to avenge their shock 3-0 World Cup final defeat by France in 1998 in the same stadium but Santini said he would keep it in perspective.
"This is an important match but this is not the most important," he said. "It's part of our preparation."
Santini believes the match is the perfect preparation for France's defence of their European title. The two sides will wear old-fashioned garments - at least for the first half.
"Brazil is the last side of such a level we are going to face before the European Championship starts," Santini said ahead of their final preparations that also includes matches against Andorra and Ukraine. "If we had to play another country, it would have been difficult for me to marshal the players at this time of the season. With Brazil it's going to be easy."
Santini, who named his 23-man Euro 2004 squad early to avoid unnecessary stress, will be missing several players who still have club commitments.
Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez of Olympique Marseille was sent off in last night's UEFA Cup final against Valencia while Bayern Munich full backs Bixente Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol are taking part in the last match of the German league on Saturday.
After facing England in the opening game, France will also play Croatia and Switzerland in Group B.
