“It’s not an easy one!” - Hugo on France’s fearsome Euro 2020 group
Mon 14 June 2021, 16:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
As France prepare to begin their assault on Euro 2020, Hugo Lloris admits they’re facing a big challenge to progress out of their group - but is confident that the top-level experience within their squad can see them through.
Winners of the last major tournament three years ago - the 2018 World Cup - Les Bleus get their Group F campaign underway on Tuesday evening against previous world champions Germany in Munich.
They then go to Budapest to face Hungary on 19 June, before staying in the same city to battle their conquerors in the Euro 2016 final, Portugal, four days later.
“We couldn’t find a tougher group!” said Hugo with a wry smile as he assessed the challenges ahead for a France squad that also includes his Club team-mate Moussa Sissoko.
“The World Cup winners in 2014, the World Cup winners in 2018, the European Championship winner in 2016 and Hungary, which is also a competitive nation, especially with the games they play at home... it’s going to be very interesting.
“With that being said, we have players who play in all the best clubs in Europe, they’re used to playing at this level and we need to use the experience of the World Cup to give confidence in this run, to get good results and good feelings during our games.
“I think it’s the target for the team to keep the momentum from the World Cup but obviously it’s going to be difficult because we are the team that everyone wants to beat, but we have the quality and we have the mentality.
“We have a tough group so it will be important for us to start the tournament well. It’s not an easy one but game-by-game we’re going to try to build our confidence into this tournament and then we know that after the group stage, it’s another tournament that starts and in one game, anything is possible, and you try to give yourselves every chance to go through.”
