Robert Zeilstra Jefferson, head coach of France

In the bronze-medal match of the 2007 International Baseball Tournament played at west Beijng's Wukesong Baseball Field this morning, France defeated Czech Republic 8-4 to get the bronze medal, beating the Czechs into the fourth place. After the match Czech coach Bichard Kania and No. 48 player Tomas Casa, and French head coach Robert Zeilstra Jefferson and No. 26 player Jamel Boutagra jointly attended the press conference.

Comments on the match

Kania Bichard: This was a great game. France played very well, though Tomas right beside me leveled the score in the seventh inning, they eventually beat us with four straight points in extra.

Robert: I'm so delighted wining the bronze. It was a very wonderful game.

Tomas: To tell the truth, I'm so disappointed losing the game. Hopefully, we can avenge the defeat in the upcoming European Championship.

Jamel: I'm so pleased to have clinched a victory in this tournament, you know, we did not win even a game before. We are preparing for the European Championship in September, we have never beaten the Czechs in recent three or four years and we have always respected them.

Czech Coach Bichard Kania 

Q & A:

Reporter: Since your mission has been done, what's your plan next? Will you come to see the final tonight or go shopping?

Czech coach: I will certainly go and watch the final, and tomorrow we will leave Beijing. We have gone shopping before. It has been a very pleasant trip.

French players: We will go back tomorrow noon, but we will certainly go to watch the final and go shopping tonight.

Reporter: Are you satisfied with the organization work and the field of this tournament?

Czech players: The organization work of this tournament is very good and the service of the working staff is very nice. We wish Beijing good luck next year.

French players: We are contented with either the organization work or the venue conditions, including lodging and scheduled bus, volunteers' service also helped make it a pleasant stay for us. We believe they will do better next year.

Reporter: Have you adapted to Beijing's high temperature? Do you have any regret for this trip to Beijing? What's your impression on Beijing?

French head coach: It is really hot and humid here. In the beginning, I was not used to it, but now I have fully adapted to it.

Czech players: Beijing impresses me a lot, what surprised me most was that there were volunteers knowing Czech, you know, Czech is difficult to learn. Those volunteers are very friendly to us, we are so flattered. We are not treated this way in Czech, because baseball is not very popular in there.

Reporters: Both coaches said they took this tournament as a warm-up for the upcoming European Championship. I would like to ask you what you get from this tournament? What do you think about baseball's not being on the sports program after 2008?

Czech players: Actually, we learned a lot from Japan and China, the two strong Asian teams, their excellent pitching and batting skills. As to the fact that baseball will be pill out of the Olympic Games, we are disappointed but cannot help it. Hope the spectators here can enjoy baseball as much as possible while it's still played at the Olympic Games next year.

French head coach: Asian pitchers are excellent and different from Dutch and Italian pitchers in technical style. All our players are very young, and just as Czech players said, we have learned a lot from this tournament.