Newcastle's Bernard Hopeful Of French Call-Up
By Matthew Jones
December 26 2003
Newcastle United defender Olivier Bernard believes that he can force his way into France's squad for Euro 2004. Bobby Robson converted Bernard into a left-back after he arrived at Newcastle as an attacking midfielder. Robson is a big fan of Bernard and even compared him with Brazil's Roberto Carlos.
BERNARD EYES FRANCE CALL-UP
Newcastle United defender Olivier Bernard believes that he can force his way into France's squad for Euro 2004.
Bernard, along with Magpies team-mate Laurent Robert are both hopeful of earning a place in Jacques Santini's French squad but it will be tough - and Bernard accepts the challenge.
"f you want to be a good player, you have to play for your country and that's what I'm looking for," he said.
"But I know to get into the French squad is quite hard because they're quite strong.
"[Bixente] Lizarazu can play there, Mikael Silvestre can play there and we've got a young left-back in France from Monaco, Patrice Evra, who is quite good. I just have to work and wait and see."
Manager Sir Bobby Robson converted Bernard into a left-back after he arrived at St James' Park as an attacking midfielder. Robson is a big fan of Olivier Bernard and even compared him with Brazil's Roberto Carlos.
"I'm not near Roberto Carlos because he's a talented player. I hope I will be, but after one game, I don't think you can say to somebody that he looks like Roberto Carlos," Bernard added.
"I'm glad that he said it and I hope one day I will be.
"I didn't want to [play at left-back] in the first place, but when you're young and you want to play, you'll play anywhere just to play regularly in the first team. But now I'm enjoying my football.
"I was a forward when when I played for France in the youth team. I was a striker and I went to the left wing and played there for three or four years.
"When I came to England, Newcastle needed a left-back so I decided to play as a left-back."