Michel Patini quotes:

The 1984 European Championships were held in France and that was something important. I felt on form then, even though I was practically always injured at all the World Cups. It's a great memory. But in any case, the past is past.

When I follow the finals of the European Cups, I look at all the aspects surrounding protocol, to get some ideas. I am interested in personalities, sponsors and the stands. But as soon as the whistle goes, it's all on the pitch.

If a FIFA World Cup tournament had been held every year between 1982 and 1986, France would have won two or three.

We were the best team in the world: European champions in 1984, we qualified without a hitch and 86 was to be the swan song for a very experienced side.

What Zidane can do with a football, Maradona could do with an orange.

We arrived in Argentina with a lot of injured players, including our goalkeeper. Also we were unlucky to be drawn in the same group as the two tournament favourites Italy and Argentina.

At Euro '92 itself, we bowed out to the eventual winners, Denmark, in our final group match.

I was playing the best football of my career at the time, finishing top scorer in Italy three year's running. There were other good players around but I think I was the best at that time.

Messi has all the conditions to be the best, but first he has to beat Maradona, Romario and then eventually Pele.

The team which I led to the 1992 European Championship Finals is the only one in the history of the entire competition to have won every single one of its qualifying matches.

What differences were there between Maradona and Platini?

The European Commission says that people who are working the country can play in the national team. Perhaps Didier Drogba can play for England after five years. We have to protect against that.

I began by playing for the biggest club in the Lorraine region, went on to the biggest club in France and ended up with the biggest in the world.

I gave everything in my career so I have no regrets at all.

Consequently, I won just about everything I set out to win, everything bar the World Cup, of course. But even now, I don't regret that, because I was part of a team which twice reached the semi-finals.

In any case, you can't turn back the clock.

I was the classic midfield organiser who could also score goals.

Beckham in Paris will certainly be good for shopping. I love this player but he is not the footballer he was. And if he comes to Paris now it will be to do something other than football.

There would probably be less of a frenzy among the French public.

For me football is more about making the right pass at the right time.

I'm well-educated person. I don't reurn the gift

It is a game before a product, a sport before a market, a show before a business.

Messi is the great player of this generation, like there were great players in other generations.

A football match should be decided by an action of play. Not some contrived process whose end result is to mark a fine player such as Bossis, Baresi or Baggio for the rest of his career.

A football team represents a way of being, a culture.

For me, football is just a game, not a drama.

I was never a prisoner to my footballing status.

Some games you win, some you lose, and some you draw.

The most skillful is Thierry Henry, he has impressed me the most. He's played a great tournament(Euro '00). He has the pace of Anelka, and the sense of Trezeguet. He's got something that no French player has ever had. He can do everything: from scoring goals, to giving assists, crossing and creating space for other players, and he fights for every ball. I've never see a player in France like him

The street is the best way to become a good footballer.

Whenever I was on the pitch, I always tried to win.

You know, my role as Vice Chairman is a lot less tiring than playing matches every three days.

Footballing qualities can be developed, but Stoichkov is a player with character and inborn talent. I've seen him produce fantastic plays even from impossible situations... I couldn't believe it, when I heard that I used to be his idol.

At times like that it's difficult to remember what's at stake, that history is in the making. As a player you feel so cut off sometimes, it can be tough... Which is why it is an enormous advantage to play at home.