France at UEFA Euro 2016 | Squad and Stats.

The Frenchmen should take advantage of the home field!

Didier Deschamps’ players didn’t play qualifications to reach the European championship finals, but they showed what they can in the friendly matches. They started their preparation for the European championship in September 2014 and since then The Blues have recorded 13 victories, 2 draws and 4 defeats, scoring 36 and conceding 21 goals. France are in Group A with the teams of Romania, Switzerland and Albania. It’s interesting that the Frenchmen played twice against Albania – in 2014 and in 2015, and The Blues couldn’t win any of these games. The first one finished with a 1-1 draw at Roazhon Park in Rennes. And even more surprising was the second result – a 1-0 victory for the Albanians.

The French national football team has won everything in football! France know best how to use their home field advantage. For example, their biggest success – the winning of the World Cup in 1998 came at Stade de France. There are two more examples – the European championship in 1984 and the Confederations cup in 2003.

When we talk about the European championships, we have to say that France are among the most successful teams at this stage. The Blues have won the trophy on two occasions, and have reached the semifinals two more times. Their first title came in 1984, when they also were the host nation. The Blues started against Denmark and won 1-0 with the only goal of Michel Platini in the 78th minute of the game. Then, France smashed Belgium and Yugoslavia, securing their place in the semi-finals. Platini was again the hero, scoring two hat-tricks for The Blues. France, then won against Portugal after extra time to find their place in the final game. Platini led his team to another victory, becoming the top goal-scorer of the tournament with 9 goals.

The only defeat France conceded in the Euro 2000 was against Holland in the group stage. Then after 3 victories with the score of 2-1 (2 of which after a golden goal), The Blues won their second European title.

The Squad:

• Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Benoit Costil.
• Defenders: Bacary Sagna, Christophe Jallet, Laurent Koscielny, Eliaquim Mangala, Samuel Umiti, Patrice Evra, Lucas Digne, Adil Rami.
• Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, N’Golo Kante, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko, Morgan Schneiderlin, Dimitri Payet.
• Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Antoine Greizmann, Anthony Martial, Olivier Giroud, Andre-Pierre Gignac.

France matches at the Euro 2016:

• 10/06/16 | France vs. Romania | Stade de France (Paris)
• 15/06/16 | France vs. Albania | Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• 19/06/16 | Switzerland vs. France | Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve d’Ascq)

The absence of several of the biggest stars of the French football is obvious. A player like Karim Benzema was not selected in the French squad for the European championship. However, Benzema was removed from the squad, because of the blackmail scandal he was involved in. So, the inclusion of Andre-Pierre Gignac instead of the in form Kevin Gameiro was also a surprise, but Didier Deschamps knows best.

In 2014 I played in my first World Cup as a French international player. The feeling of playing in a World Cup is every footballer’s dream. I would like to win the trophy one day, but I will never forget my first goal in the tournament – a header in France’s 1-0 win against Nigeria. But now, I have to be 100% concentrated on the Euro 2016. Paul Pogba