Steve Savidan: International Debut A Pleasure

Few international debutants can have been as popular as Steve Savidan proved for France last night in the scoreless draw with Uruguay. Coming on for Nicolas Anelka at half time, the Caen striker injected a little bit of unpredictability and fun to proceedings, all the time looking as if he was revelling in the atmosphere.

“I was really happy,” he smiled to l’Equipe after the game. “I had friends and family in the stadium, so it was just like playing in the Stade d’Dornano (Caen’s home ground).”

Always with an eye on the spectacular or the unlikely, Savidan pleased the crowd with an upbeat display and they returned their praise by way of chanting his name. At 30-years-old, the forward is aware how quickly public opinion can sway.

“The public is versatile!” he warned. “I hope they continue to share my emotions, because I have always played on them. This is a show first and if players do not take pleasure, then they cannot give it.”

Team-mate Patrice Evra chose to compare Savidan to Jean-Pierre Papin, but the humble Angers-born star was quick to play down such comparisons. “Of course that makes me happy,” Savidan stated, “Before becoming JPP, though, I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

‘Savigol’ also spoke of the welcome his team-mates in the French side gave him. “They all said they were very happy for me,” he explained. “I am very honoured because they gave me a small flag of the match to mark my first selection. They also gave me a jersey – I’ll sell it on eBay tomorrow!”

Robin Bairner