French tour to provide players with light relief

Last updated : 09 July 2006 By Editor

Most of the squad, with the exception of those players who have been at the World Cup this summer started pre-season training last week. Jol who has been a newspaper and radio pundit in Germany for the past month reckons this World Cup has shown that tactics or technique no longer decides games on their own.

"It's good work for us, but physically tough," said Teemu Tanio after Thursday's session, in which the squad was split into three groups with two groups put through their paces via running drills.

"On Wednesday we did all our medical and physical tests and on Thursday morning the serious running started. In terms of fitness I was quite good as usual but I still hated the running!" added the Finnish international.

The players will be relieved to have three pre-season friendlies starting next week. They take on Bordeaux in Albertville on Thursday, Nice in Thonon on Friday and Celta Vigo in Annecy on Tuesday July 18.