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'We are Italians with a punch', says Dugarry

France are very similar to Italy but with more fire-power, French striker Christophe Dugarry said ahead of tomorrow's Euro 2000 final between two teams with plenty in common.

''We play more and more like the Italians but we have more potential in attack,'' said Dugarry, one of several French players with an inside knowledge of Italian soccer as he played for A C Milan in the 1996-97 season.

''We have acquired the Italians' tactical culture while retaining our French flair and that's what makes us so strong,'' added the Bordeaux forward.

Seven members of the French squad have played for Italian clubs, four still do and two - Johan Micoud and David Trezeguet - are about to join them.

Key players like Zinedine Zidane, Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps all reached a new dimension by playing in the Serie A.

Aime Jacquet, then the French coach, said the experience they had gained in the prestigious Italian league was vital to France's triumphant World Cup campaign.

Jacquet, a confessed admirer and close friend of former Italian coach Cesare Maldini, admitted Italian football was his model and Roger Lemerre, who took over as head coach after the World Cup, shares the same views.

''Playing constantly at a very high level and going out to win every time is what the Italians have taught us,'' said Dugarry. ''What we have to do on Sunday is be as strong as they will be defensively, while expressing our own qualities going forward.''

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