- Title: FRANCE: SOCCER/FOOTBALL: Freshly-picked France team prepares for Brazil
- Date: 19th May 2014
- Summary: CLAIREFONTAINE, FRANCE (MAY 19, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FRANCE TEAM TRAINING CENTRE SATELLITE TRUCKS ON CAR PARK FRANCE GOALKEEPER AND CAPTAIN HUGO LLORIS ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE GOALKEEPER AND CAPTAIN HUGO LLORIS SAYING: "I think we have to continue on the dynamic we created against Ukraine in the playoff, we made the French proud, happy about their side, and continue on this track, we showed a good image of ourselves against the Netherlands and we need to continue whenever we have the occasion to defend the colours of the France team, we need to do it with pride and ambition and that's what we are going to do during the competition." JOURNALISTS AT WORK LLORIS LEAVING ROOM FRANCE COACH DIDIER DESCHAMPS ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE LIGHT FITTING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE COACH DIDIER DESCHAMPS, SPEAKING ABOUT INJURY TO GOALKEEPER STEVE MANDANDA, SAYING: "I am sad and so are his team mates for him, these things unfortunately happen and today it wasn't possible for him to hope that he could be available for what's coming up so it's a difficult moment, it happens to other nations too. It was an important goal for him to play a World Cup but I know that he will be fully behind us so that we do our best in this World Cup." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE COACH DIDIER DESCHAMPS SAYING: "It's the start of a long adventure with the first players arriving today, we are now able to get into the thick of it, although it will really be on June 15, but we have this period of preparation which precedes the World Cup, there are late arrivals but the group adventure starts today." JOURNALISTS GETTING UP TO LEAVE FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION LOGO
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEUVI6Q68OFCY4DAV95H8VVNFZ
- Story Text: France captain Hugo Lloris urged his team mates on Monday (May 19) to keep their recent dynamic as Les Bleus gear up for the World Cup finals.
France, whose 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 campaigns were marred by off-field trouble, have been burying the ghosts of their farcical stay in South Africa under new coach Didier Deschamps.
They almost missed out on this year's finals after a 2-0 away defeat against Ukraine in their playoff first leg, but turned the situation around to win the return leg 3-0 before following up with a convincing 2-0 friendly win against the Netherlands two months ago.
"I think we have to continue on the dynamic we created against Ukraine in the playoff, we made the French proud, happy about their side, and continue on this track, we showed a good image of ourselves against the Netherlands and we need to continue whenever we have the occasion to defend the colours of the France team, we need to do it with pride and ambition and that's what we are going to do during the competition," Lloris told a news conference on Monday at the French training camp, where Les Bleus are gathering ahead of three World Cup warm up games.
France will have to deal with the absence of second-choice goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who was ruled out of the World Cup with a neck injury.
"I am sad and so are his team mates for him, these things unfortunately happen and today it wasn't possible for him to hope that he could be available for what's coming up so it's a difficult moment, it happens to other nations too. It was an important goal for him to play a World Cup but I know that he will be fully behind us so that we do our best in this World Cup," France coach Didier Deschamps said.
The 1998 World Cup winner also has to deal with several injury problems in his 29-man squad, which includes six reserve players.
Centre back Eliaquim Mangala, who is among the 23 selected for the Brazil trip, has been suffering from an ankle injury, while Karim Benzema has been dealing with a groin problem.
Because of club commitments, only nine players have arrived at Clairefontaine, where they will first train with he Under-21 squad until most of the squad is assembled on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Deschamps was happy to focus on preparing for Brazil:
"It's the start of a long adventure with the first players arriving today, we are now able to get into the thick of it, although it will really be on June 15, but we have this period of preparation which precedes the World Cup, there are late arrivals but the group adventure starts today," Deschamps said.
France take on Norway on May 27 before playing Paraguay and Jamaica on June 1 and 8 respectively.
The World Cup finals begin on June 12. France are in Group E with Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras, who they face in their opener on June 15. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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