Lloris, Deschamps shy away from favourites tag

France captain Huge Lloris insisted Les Blues “don’t feel like favourites” despite being fancied to win Euro 2016 which they start against Romania today.
The hosts start the 24-team tournament at the Stade de France in Paris hoping to emulate the French sides that won the 1984 Euros and 1998 World Cup at home.
Lloris insisted more should be expected of world champions Germany and holders Spain despite France being one of the top contenders to lift the trophy on July 10.
“We don’t feel like favourites at all, I don’t think we’ve proved anything thus far if we compare ourselves to Spain and Germany,” said the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper.
“Playing on home soil is a positive we have over the other sides and we need to make the most of that.
“We’ve won nine of the last 10 matches, but we still have everything to do and I hope from tomorrow night we start with a victory.”
French coach Didier Deschamps was captain in 1998 when an ethnically diverse squad united the nation with their success.
Now he is charged with lifting the spirits of a country beset by social unrest and fears of a repeat of the attacks that hit Paris in November killing 130 people.
However, Deschamps also played down France’s tag as favourites.
“Based on their experience and results over the last few years these two sides Germany, as the reigning world champions, and Spain, based on what they have achieved, begin the competition with the legitimate aim of being able to win it.”
Deschamps has a huge array of quality attacking talent to choose from to try and break down a Romanian side that had the best defensive record in qualifying.
Yet, he was keen to stress the importance of France defending well, despite the absence of the injured Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu and suspended Mamadou Sakho due to a doping violation.
“In a big competition you have to strike the right balance and defend well. During our training camps, training sessions we have focused on having an effective defensive unit.
“I picked these players. I know their qualities, there are players with different characteristics, we’ve been able to score a lot of goals and create a lot of problems for the opponents.
“If you want to go far in the competition clearly you need to have great attacking potential.”
On top of a huge security operation amid fears the tournament could be hit by a militant attack, transport strikes over the French government’s controversial labour reforms could strand thousands of travelling fans.
Lloris lamented the fact off-field issues could overshadow France’s bid for glory once the action gets underway.
“I am a spectator too, I hope it won’t spoil the party because in a competition like this, on French soil, I think we have to show a great image of our country.”

Romania target defensive weakness of millionaire French
AFP/Paris
Veteran Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu is optimistic his side can expose France’s defensive woes to surprise the hosts in today’s Euro 2016 opening match.
Injuries to Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Barcelona’s Jeremy Mathieu have depleted a French backline already shorn of Mamadou Sakho due to a provisional UEFA ban for doping.
However, Iordanescu is wary of the array of quality attacking talent available to French coach Didier Deschamps.
“France are a very attacking unit,” said Iordanescu, who is in his third spell as Romania boss, yesterday.
“I think France have some terrifically talented players, all with top sides in the Champions League and it is a side worth hundreds of millions of Euros.
“That said, France do have some shortcomings at the back.”
Deschamps’s men are one of the favourites to repeat the feats of the 1984 Euros and 1998 World Cup French teams by winning the tournament on home soil.
And Iordanescu expects a fast start from Les Bleus once the action gets underway after a long build-up dominated by terrorism worries and the sex-tape blackmail scandal that saw Real Madrid star Karim Benzema left out the French squad.
“I believe France have lost only one of their last 10 matches,” added Iordanescu.
“Given the ability of their players I think France are one of the favourites for this tournament.
“I expect France to begin the match in an aggressive fashion. I’m sure my players are ready and determined to overcome these spells of pressure and domination form the opposition we are likely to face.”