Interview: Matt Le Tissier hits the beach

The sun was shining, the birds were singing... well, they were for the first few days of this year's Beach Soccer event in Brighton, England, as teams from across the globe competed for the Kronenbourg Cup, but by the time we ventured down on bank holiday Monday, the more familiar sight of grey skies and torrential rain greeted us.

Nevertheless, this didn't dampen the spirits of players or fans in the slightest, with a jam-packed, excitable stadium enjoying the football both on the sand-covered pitch and on the various PS2 pods dotted around the venue, in the shape of the magnificent Pro Evolution Soccer.

Le Tissier is subjected to a post-match grilling

A still-young, nascent sport, beach soccer is played on a five-a-side sized pitch as teams scrap it out over three thirds of intense action. Though the majority of players are specialists in the discipline, organisers have dramatically increased the profile of the event by attracting some major footballing stars of recent years.

Konami sponsored the English and French sides, captained respectively by the legendary Manchester United hero and current star of a Nike advertising campaign Eric Cantona, and former England international and stalwart of the English premiership Matt Le Tissier. England also boasted the skills of former Wimbledon hard man John Scales and erstwhile Man City and Everton star Neil Pointon.

The final game of the tournament was a grudge match between England and Germany, and despite vociferous support from the predominantly English crowd and a corking early goal from Le Tissier, England still slumped to a disappointing 4-2 defeat. After the match, we caught up with the England captain who gave us his thoughts on the match as well as revealing his compulsive gamesplaying habits.

Great goal very early in the game, but a disappointing result overall - what are your thoughts on the match?

Le Tissier: Bit disappointing really. We got off to a flying start - it was only a couple minutes before we scored, so disappointing that we couldn't take it on from there. But Germany took their chances better than we did - that was it.

What's your overall impression of the tournament as a whole?

Le Tissier: Yeah, very good - great fun. The crowd really loved it - it's been a really good atmosphere down here and I think it's going to grow and grow.

This is your first taste of beach soccer, then?

Le Tissier: Yes, it is. I only retired a couple of weeks ago, so just thought I'd give it a go and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The former England star takes a walk on the pitch

So now you've got the bug, is this the first of many?

Le Tissier: Hopefully, yes. I think we'll get better as a team as well because its pretty early days for the England beach soccer team, but we put up a decent showing.

You're one of many former professionals who took part in this weekend's tournament - how do you feel you match up against the specialists?

Le Tissier: It'll take a long time to get close to them - these guys have been playing beach soccer for a lot longer than I have. There are different techniques to master and I'm sure I'll get better as I go on.

How does the technique differ from playing on grass and what aspects of your own game do you feel are appropriate for playing on the beach?

Le Tissier: A lot of it is keeping the ball in the air really, and making volleys to score goals. I was quite decent at that on the grass so I thought I'd give it a go, and it didn't go too badly - I got three goals in three games so just need to brush up a little on the old overhead kick technique! [laughs]

Did you watch Cantona play? Do you think he's still got it or is he a bit over the hill now?

Le Tissier: [laughs] Well, I think Eric's obviously not the player he was when he was at Manchester United, but that's a long time ago - we all get older and wider... [laughs] He's still good value, though - people here will just come to see Eric as he's such a draw.

You've had a great career and are renowned for being one of the most loyal players in the business having stayed with Southampton for such a long time - any regrets.?

Le Tissier: There are always those questions, but I've got no regrets. I've had 17 great years and if someone had said to me as a 16-year-old kid that I'd rack up over 500 games for Southampton, 209 goals and eight England caps, I think I'd have taken that.

Eric Cantona is mobbed by autograph hunters in the VIP area

Which direction do you see your career heading in now? Do you see yourself as a manager, or a professional beach soccer player, or do you fancy being a TV pundit?

Le Tissier: At the moment I quite like the idea of the old TV pundit - that looks like quite a cushy job to me. If I can get away with that, earn a few quid and play a lot of golf that'll suit me down to the ground [laughs].

The English and French sides are sponsored by Konami and as well as the beach soccer, there's also the opportunity to have a play on Pro Evolution Soccer on PS2? Football videogames are enormously popular - have you played many yourself?

Le Tissier: Yeah, I have. I've got a PlayStation 2 myself and I play all the soccer games, cricket games and Harry Potter - absolutely magnificent! [laughs] It's good fun - I love all those videogames, but I've not had much time to play them lately as I've been so hectic since I retired. I wish I'd never retired - I was far less busy before! [laughs]

So now this tournament's out of the way do you plan to chill out and enjoy the World Cup?

I'm gonna be here for a couple of weeks then I'm going on holiday to weigh up all my options for next year.

Be sure to stay tuned to our World Cup week all this week for stacks more special features and prizes to be won, including an interview with Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, a full preview of the amazing Winning Eleven 6 on PS2, and the opportunity to win joypads, games and football shirts signed by Cantona, Le Tissier and the heroic England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

Johnny Minkley