Saturday 18 / May / 2024
Saint-Denis: France are ready for Sunday's Euro 2016 final against Portugal and not afraid of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as they aim to give the nation some joy again after some hard times on and off the pitch.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is up there as one of the best if not the best. But he doesn't scare me," defender Bacary Sagna told a news conference at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Coach Didier Deschamps named the Real Madrid star a major threat because of "his pace and aerial threat as he warned: "We need to limit his influence."
Captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris called for a team effort to stop Ronaldo but Deschamps also said that it is almost impossible to take him out of the match complete.
"If there is an anti-Ronaldo plan the no one has found a recipe," Deschamps said.
But coming off a 2-0 win over world champions Germany, from a double by France star Antoine Griezmann, France have plenty of confidence ahead of the big game, with Lloris saying "We are ready."
"At this stage there are no favourites. What matters is winning, regardless of the opposition, as there is a huge trophy up for grabs. We have had a wonderful campaign and want to finish in the best possible fashion," Lloris said.
Deschamps did not want to reveal any tactics but Samuel Umtiti is expected to start for the third time after impressing in central defence in the last two games which were his maiden caps.
Tournament top scorer Griezmann will likely play in a deep role behind striker Olivier Giroud again, as in the past two games.
"He is a talented and clinical player and that is important for the team. He also gets the team playing," Deschamps said of Griezmann.
France are seeking a third straight trophy on home ground, after Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup.
They also want to overcome the shame of the 2010 World Cup, when some players revolted against then coach Raymond Domenech, and give the French nation some joy in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris in November.
"We went through a crisis in French football but managed to pick ourselves up," said Lloris who was on the French squad six years ago in South Africa. "We can make history. It is a unique opportunity in a players' career."
Sagna, who was also part of the team, said: "South Africa left its mark on French football. Clearly we made mistakes. It wasn't nice and left a very negative image of French football.
"We had to go back to basics and try to get public on our side again. We have done good work to be in final six years later. We want to show a different image of French football."
France's improvement on and off the pitch and its rise through the ranks under the 1998 captain Deschamps have reconciled the fans with Les Bleus, and this bond also helps them overcome the tragedy from November when the Stade de France was also under attack while the team was playing Germany in a friendly.
"It makes us even prouder to be on the pitch and feel the French population behind us. The happiness here between players and people is lovely to see. But we have a final step to take," Lloris said.
