England defender Ashley Cole says team mates John Terry and Sol Campbell can cope with the goal threat of France striker Thierry Henry when the two sides meet in Euro 2004.
Cole and Campbell watched Arsenal team mate Henry score 38 goals for the English premier league side last season, but will be on opposing sides on Sunday when they begin their Euro 2004 campaign in the Group B clash.
"John and Sol are well equipped to play against Thierry," Cole told reporters.
| |||||||||||
"But while Henry and their (France) other players are superstars, we have to think about our game and how we can play and if we do that we can get a result.
"You have to worry about them but you can't worry too much as it will affect us. We have to remember we some great players here as well."
Cole intends to try and upset Arsenal's French players -- Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord -- by sending them text messages on his mobile telephone before the game.
"There was some banter between myself and some of the French players at Arsenal over the last few games (of the league season)," he added.
"We had a title to win and a record to beat but towards the end I was telling Thierry Henry I would be looking to kick him, if I can catch him!
"I think the French players are away somewhere but when we get out to Portugal I will send them a little text telling them we'll beat them."
HYPE FEAR
Cole fears England could get caught up in the hype surrounding the French game and slip-up against Group B rivals Croatia and Switzerland.
"Everyone is raring to go. We know how good France are and on our day we can be a great team as well," he said.
"You have to play the best teams to win the tournament and France first gives us a chance to enjoy a big boost. If we get a result there it will set us up for the other games.
"But we can't afford just to focus on the France game. Croatia are a good team and we can't forget about Switzerland."
England warmed up for the tournament with a convincing 6-1 defeat of Iceland on Saturday with coach Sven-Goran Eriksson ditching his diamond formation for a flat four-man midfield.
The move was welcomed by Cole who says he feels exposed at times at left back.
"The system we played against Iceland does make it easier because sometimes opponents leave a player out wide and he gets the ball all the time and attacks the full back," Cole said.
"But against Iceland Paul Scholes did a great job in protecting me and the same with David Beckham on the other side and we seemed happier with that."
More from rediff