France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris insists there is NO problem in the dressing room following spat between Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud… with captain adamant world champions have ‘a great spirit’ despite ‘different opinions’
France captain Hugo Lloris insisted there were no rifts in the camp as he played down the public spat between strikers Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud.
The world champions begin their Euro 2020 campaign on Tuesday evening with a tantalising Group F clash against three-time winners Germany.
Chelsea man Giroud criticised the service of his team-mates after scoring twice as a substitute in last week’s 3-0 warm-up win over Bulgaria, with Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe unhappy the matter was not kept private.
Hugo Lloris has played down the rift between France stars Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe
Goalkeeper Lloris brushed off the disagreement and believes France have a healthy team spirit going into their tournament opener in Munich.
‘Mbappe and Giroud they had maybe a short discussion but that’s normal – it’s nothing unusual,’ the 34-year-old said.
‘There are different opinions in the locker room, this can happen. It didn’t harm the team at all. We’ve a great team spirit. I think we dealt with it very well.
‘Kylian had to say something, but this is something he said in the past. We are focused now on our first match in this competition.’
Giroud, who is five goals short of matching Thierry Henry’s record haul of 51 for France, was brought on in the first half of that friendly in Paris due to Karim Benzema being withdrawn as an injury precaution.
Giroud criticised the service of his team-mates during France’s friendly win against Bulgaria
Lloris says there is a good spirit in the France camp despite Mbappe and Giroud’s issue
France boss Didier Deschamps has a fully-fit squad to select from at the Allianz Arena, with Mbappe, Benzema, Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele among a wealth of attacking options.
Tottenham player Lloris believes the star-studded frontline will strike fear into the Germans, but stressed the team requires balance to be successful.
‘These are world-class players who have been playing at the top level,’ he said.
‘I understand that our opponents may be afraid of our attack and that we are praised for the attack we have.
‘But we can only achieve success through the collective. It will be important to keep the right balance and be focused against such a great opponent as Germany.’
Deschamps guided France to the final of Euro 2016 on home turf before recovering from an unconvincing start at the 2018 World Cup in Russia to succeed Germany as champions.
France boss Didier Deschamps says that the first match of a tournament is not decisive
The 52-year-old, a world and European champion as a player in 1998 and 2000 respectively, believes the best two teams in the competition will meet in Bavaria but maintains victory at such an early stage is not vital.
‘We didn’t start too well in that tournament in 2018 but it doesn’t matter at the end if you see what came out,’ said Deschamps.
‘The first match is important but it is not decisive. We’re the best two teams in Europe, so it’s all about being clinical in attack and focused defending.’