ISP Exclusive Interview: Bixente Lizarazu

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Thank you for giving us this opportunity; In what language would you prefer to conduct the Interview?

Bixente Lizarazu: I prefer to speak English.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: In the past Bundesliga season you had the opportunity to play with Ali Karimi, one of Iran's stars. What type of player is he?

Bixente Lizarazu: He is very technical and has a unique dribbling skill. Karimi is a nice person and I hope he can be successful with the Iranian national team in the World Cup.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Michael Ballack has left for Chelsea which has left a void in the starting eleven. Do you think Karimi can replace him at that position?

Bixente Lizarazu: He can play that position and also on the side. He can actually play different positions. Playing for such a huge squad, choosing the best position for him will not be easy.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: You had the opportunity to play with all three Iranian players at Munich. What are your opinions about them?

Bixente Lizarazu: Ali Daei is just an unique striker and shot many goals, Karimi and Hashemian have great dribbling skills and all three of them are very nice players with a great spirit.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: In your career you had also the opportunity to play against a teams like Portugal. What is your opinion about them? Are they very strong?

Bixente Lizarazu: It is difficult to say, the best teams are Brazil, France, Italy, England and Germany. It is difficult to judge one team but my favorite so far is Brazil.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: What about the underdogs? Which team is the best of the bunch?

Bixente Lizarazu: There is always a surprise, maybe from Africa or Asia. I would choose a team from Africa as they could beat big teams in their continent, too.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Have you ever watched any Asian games?

Bixente Lizarazu: No

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Would you ever take into consideration coaching an Asian team?

Bixente Lizarazu: No, No, never... for sure never. I will never be a coach in my life.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Today you had your last game with Munich, or better yet, your last game ever as a professional player?

Bixente Lizarazu: Well, it wasn’t the last game. My last game was on the 14th May in Munich against Dortmund. Today’s game against New York was just a friendly and nothing else. But let me tell you one thing; today is the first match of my new life.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: So how do you feel right now that you are a free man?

Bixente Lizarazu: I feel free like a bird.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: What is now your next step?

Bixente Lizarazu: I signed a new three year contract with French TV and will work with them at the World Cup. There are a lot of things to do and I will enjoy my life with sport.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: My final question. Your national team, France... How do you see them? Can they get far?

Bixente Lizarazu: If they reach the quarterfinal, everything else will be possible because they will have less pressure. We won in 1998, there was a disaster in 2002, now we have to hope for 2006.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: So you think that France will succeed without your star Zidane one day?

Bixente Lizarazu: We have to wait and see. For another big player like Zidane you need to wait 10, 15 or 20 years.

IRANSPORTSPRESS.COM: Thank you so much for the interview and good luck in the future.

Bixente Lizarazu: Thank you. It was a pleasure.