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Proud Pichot signs off

Pichot: 'I'm captain of a great team'

Argentina captain Agustín Pichot lauded his troops after they claimed a spot on the World Cup podium courtesy of a scintillating 34-10 victory over France in the Bronze Medal Final at Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday.

The hosts made a bright start, scoring an early penalty through Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and taking the lion's share of possession and territory.

But then the Pumas struck, running in ran five terrific tries to snuff out French hopes of avenging that defeat on the opening night of the tournament.

"I'm very proud of the team having lost against South Africa and being here today to finish my career here like this - I'm captain of a great team," said the official man of the match.

"Thank you everyone in the world that supported Argentina - we are third in the world. I'm very proud - it's amazing."

Pichot appeared a broken man after Argentina lost their semi-final to South Africa last weekend and said at the time: "For us, the World Cup is now over."

But he played a key role in lifting the Pumas during the week and inspired them to produce a magnificent performance at the Parc des Princes.

"The Argentina team is not just a rugby team, we are a team that does a lot of things with the heart and the soul," he said.

"It was like a boxing match today. In the last the or four rounds, when you are tired and hurting, you have to look inside. That is what we did today.

"I was completely finished last week. It was a dream that was destroyed for me.

"On Tuesday I spoke [with coach Marcelo Loffreda] for about two hours. It was a kind of therapy session and decided what our new approach was going to be.

"On Wednesday morning my expression had changed. The team rejuvenates you. When you are down you can be lifted back up again.

"This energy exists between us and it is a special thing. We picked ourselves up and knew we could win the match. This is a great team."

Pichot may allow himself one final appearance in Argentina to say goodbye to the supporters but said tonight's match is likely to be his last for the Pumas.

"You cannot give much more than this," he said.

"Psychologically, with the heart, with the spirit. I am not a very talented footballer, and for over eight years I have had to give everything.

These last three months I gave everything and a little bit more.

"I couldn't achieve more than this. I would prefer to end my career like this. I could carry on but I think it wouldn't be fair for my history and career.

"It is the end of a great period, the end of Argentina for me. I would probably play in Argentina one more time to say goodbye. Today has been the end of the best thing I have ever been part of.

"I have been part of a very special group that will always be remembered - the Argentina World Cup team 2007."

Loffreda, who is also leaving to take charge of Leicester in the Guinness Premiership, heaps praise on his skipper and his team.

"I am so proud of the players, I am proud of the team," said Loffreda.

"I am grateful to all of them for the eight years we have spent together and especially to the captain who has allowed me to spend great time with him over these years. I have learned a great deal from him.

"I am truly grateful to him and tonight we are absolutely delighted. We played an incredible game."

Loffreda's moving elegy moved Pichot close to tears, and he returned the complement.

"Over the past eight years you get to know someone really well, and when I am down he [Loffreda] knows how to bring my morale up, that's the role of a coach," he said.

"As for the future, it is not so certain because there are a lot of political problems in Argentina.

"I hope Argentine rugby is going to enjoy this period, but a new system has to come now - it's not for me and Marcelo [Loffreda] to stay on. It will be a totally different system."