By Lorenzo Gotti
July 2 2002

Michael Schumacher has just spent his ideal sort of weekend at home with the family. However, it is quite unusual for the family to get together like this and spend most of the time glued to the television set. For once, thanks to the soccer World Cup.

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The usually “active” Michael Schumacher was turned into a “couch potato.” Already last Friday, during F1 testing at Mugello, Michael was endlessly quizzed about the match and his high hopes. “I think our team is capable of anything and so far has shown great team spirit,” he said before last Sunday’s final against Brazil. He added, not wishing to hurt his team-mate’s feelings, “excuse me Rubens, but I hope we win!” But events were to dash his hopes as victory and the World Cup went to Brazil. But the four times world champion was not too disheartened. “Actually, our hopes were not that high before the tournament. The lads can be proud of what they have achieved and I think they played really well in the final. In the end, all that was missing was that famous little bit of luck. Overall, this was a very entertaining World Cup. I think our guys were fantastic.”

Now however, it is Schumacher’s turn to show what he can do. This Sunday sees the race at Silverstone and the Ferrari drivers leaves for England in confident mood. “We can feel well prepared as all our testing has been very promising. Our recent tyre tests at Mugello were very instructive. I would say we have every reason to be confident for Silverstone.”

Does he still think about his accident in 1999? Braking for Stowe corner, Michael Schumacher suffered a brake failure and broke a leg. “Of course the memory remains,” said the championship leader. “You never completely forget something like that. Basically it is not a nice feeling to head for a wall, with no brakes and knowing what to expect. However, it has not effect when I'm driving. I am not going to Silverstone with a strange feeling in my stomach. When I am in the cockpit, all the memories vanish. Of course I will be giving it a hundred percent at Silverstone and if everything goes as planned then we should do well.”

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