France are seeking to emulate their 1984 European Championship success on home soil but know that taming a relentless Iceland won’t be easy. PHOTO: AFP
France are seeking to emulate their 1984 European Championship success on home soil, but goalkeeper Lloris is well aware of the dangers posed by Iceland after the North Atlantic islanders shocked England 2-1 in the last 16.
“It’s not by chance Iceland have made it through,” Lloris told a press conference. “The extension to 24 teams] which has allowed smaller countries to take part in the competition has shown that there are no longer any small sides in Europe.”
Gareth Bale’s Wales, who like Iceland are taking part at the Euros for the first time, sent shockwaves throughout France after stunning second-ranked Belgium 3-1 on Friday to reach their first ever major tournament semi-final.
And Lloris highlighted the fact that cohesive team performances have by and large trumped any individual brilliance at Euro 2016, with the continent’s smaller nations leaving their mark on the tournament.
“There have been surprises right from the outset of this tournament. We’re also aware it’s not simply enough to play good football and be a top side to make it into the last four,” he said. “The best sides that have played the best football are not necessarily still in the competition. I think it’s now more of a team mindset that we have and the difference will ultimately be made by a team’s mental strength.”
Didier Deschamps will be forced to make at least two changes with defender Adil Rami and midfielder N’Golo Kante both ruled out through suspension at the Stade de France.
Samuel Umtiti, who is set to join Barcelona from Lyon, is expected to get the nod ahead of Eliaquim Mangala alongside Laurent Koscielny in defence for what would be his international debut.
Welsh unsung heroes allow Bale to keep dreaming
Gareth Bale’s dream of winning Euro 2016 with Wales remains very much alive after he and his teammates dug deep to send Belgium packing in remarkable fashion in Friday’s quarter-final.
Wales recovered from Radja Nainggolan’s missile-like opener in the 13th minute to win 3-1 in Lille but it was unsung captain Ashley Williams, striker Hal Robson-Kanu and substitute Sam Vokes who got the goals.
A semi-final clash with Portugal sets up an enticing clash between Bale and his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It feels incredible. We fully believed we could get this far. We said we’d give it a good go. We’re enjoying the journey,” said Bale. “We fought as hard as anyone. We covered every blade of grass. I think we deserve to be in the semi-finals. We believe in ourselves. We know what we’re doing.”
The hopes of Wales fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy were pinned on Bale shining as he had done earlier in the tournament.
With his parents watching, Bale had an influence on proceedings but such a spectacular victory owed more to a huge collective effort.
Wales did not reach the quarter-finals by being a one-man team, but they could not have made it this far without Bale.
“We’ll do our homework and work on our game plan. It’s not long before the next game. I’m sure there’ll be a few celebrations but not too much,” said Bale.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2016.
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