Patrice Evra has gone from striking at 2010 World Cup to part of France ‘family’ at Euro 2016
Juventus ace was skipper of team which boycotted training in South Africa but enjoy more togetherness with current squad
PATRICE EVRA was at the heart of the World Cup row that tore France apart.
When he describes the current squad as a “family” it shows how far they have come in six years — and in the last month during the Euros.
The hosts have been hit by injuries, the scandal of Karim Benzema’s blackmail accusations and Eric Cantona suggesting players were left out on racial grounds.
But Evra, who was skipper in South Africa 2010 when players boycotted training after Nicolas Anelka’s axe, says they have shown their unity by reaching the final.
The Juventus full-back said: “We have started a family in this squad.
“The breakthrough was probably our play-off win over Ukraine in 2013 because, after that, we had a good World Cup.”
France overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat Ukraine 3-2 on aggregate.
They went on to make the quarter-finals in Brazil, where they lost 1-0 to Germany.
Ex-Manchester United ace Evra, 35, said: “We must be a nation that wins. It is now, it must end with a trophy.
“I’ve never won anything with France and it will feel like a failure, a blot on my career, if it stayed like that.
“I am proud of my team-mates. They’re going all-out to make me cry by winning the Euros.”
Standing in their way is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at Stade de France.
They have had one day less to prepare but Laurent Koscielny says squad spirit is high as they look to write a new chapter in French history.
That was Didier Deschamps’ message before the hosts beat Germany 2-0 in Marseilles on Thursday night, when Antoine Griezmann struck twice to sink the world champions.
Arsenal defender Koscielny, 30, revealed: “During his team-talk the manager said ‘the past is the past’.
“It was not revenge for 2014 when we lost to Germany in the quarters.
“The motivation for us was to write our own history in a European Championship on home soil.
“We are rewarded for everything since May 17 when we started our training camp back in Biarritz.
“There is a great atmosphere in this group, everyone could see it. There is little time to recover.
“We must remain grounded as the hardest step of all is still to come — win the final.”
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Les Bleus boss Deschamps will have a selection dilemma as Samuel Umtiti has impressed at centre-back since stepping in for Adil Rami in the quarter-finals.
It marks an amazing summer where the 22-year-old has sealed a move from Lyon to Barcelona and made his France debut at the Euros.
Umtiti said: “I’m still pinching myself, but I won’t let it go to my head. I don’t get carried away.
“I live from day to day. I take what happens because, honestly, I did not presume I’d be involved in the semi-final. It has been an amazing month, a sacred July, for me. I hope it will continue like that.
“I do not know whether I’ll play the final. We never know. The coach will have to make choices and I’ll accept whatever he decides.”
Should the hosts win tomorrow there will be a Premier League twist as Tottenham keeper — and France captain — Hugo Lloris will lift the trophy.
The White Hart Lane No 1 said: “There’s still one big step to go, the biggest one.
“But this was a victory for the group, for the collective. I am very proud to be part of this squad. We all assumed our responsibilities.
“It is difficult to beat us and even a big team like Germany has failed to break us down.
“In the dressing room there was a lot of joy and satisfaction.
“We will savour this win, but not too much.
“In these big matches, you need everyone to pull their weight.
“I had to be there on a few occasions to keep them out, so there’s personal satisfaction, too, to have played a part in such a huge collective victory.”