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World Cup 2018: France captain Hugo Lloris vows his side won’t make the same mistake after Euro 2016 final woe

Two years ago, as the hosts, France were hot favourites to win the trophy but lost against a mediocre Portugal

WHATEVER term the French use to describe "deja vu", Hugo Lloris does not want history to repeat itself in today’s World Cup final.

Two years ago, as the hosts of Euro 2016, France emerged from a tense semi-final against fancied opposition as hot favourites to win the trophy but lost.

Hugo Lloris has promised France won't slip like they did at Euro 2016
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Hugo Lloris has promised France won't slip like they did at Euro 2016Credit: Getty

Here in Russia, after Tuesday’s victory over Belgium, Les Bleus are fully expected to defeat a Croatia side who would be the biggest outsiders to win football’s biggest prize.

Goalkeeper Lloris, their captain, admits France got carried away on a tide of euphoria after defeating world champions Germany in Marseilles two years ago, only to lose the final to Portugal.

But Lloris is adamant they will not make the same mistake. He said: “I don’t think the same thing will happen again. The Euros was something new for so many players.

“And in the Velodrome after we’d beaten Germany, we had this communion with the public.

Fancied France lost to Portgual in the 2016 final on home soil
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Fancied France lost to Portgual in the 2016 final on home soilCredit: AFP

“Beyond that I don’t think we saw it that we had already won the trophy, even though we had followed the euphoria.

“I don’t think we celebrated the same way after Belgium. We just want to give the best opportunity to win this final.

“The majority of players in the squad were not at the Euros but for players who were, the final was difficult to digest.

"I don’t know if we were aware we’d have the possibility of a second final but we owe it to ourselves to grab this opportunity.”


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Although the majority of France’s squad has changed since the Euros, six starters remain.

And coach Didier Deschamps, who is bidding to become only the third man to play in and manage a World Cup-winning side after Franz Beckenbauer and Mario Zagallo, says Les Bleus will learn from their lapse in 2016.

Deschamps said: “I have nine players here who were at the Euros and they know, unfortunately, how it ended — but what happened two years ago must serve us in this final.

“When you’ve lived through a situation, you have a different attitude the next time.”

France have beaten Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium to reach this final, with young forward Kylian Mbappe lighting up the grandest stage.

France beat Belgium to reach the final against Croatia
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France beat Belgium to reach the final against CroatiaCredit: AP:Associated Press

Yet there is a feeling Deschamps, the "water carrier" who skippered France to World Cup glory in 1998, has kept his team on a tight leash. That is unlikely to change much today.

Deschamps and Lloris have talked up Croatia — and especially their creative midfield hub of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic — but their victory over England was the third consecutive World Cup game to go to extra time.

And they have had 24 hours less to recover than France.

Deschamps says he will trust Mbappe, 19, to take the final in his stride — with the jet-propelled Paris Saint-Germain forward favourite to win the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament.

Deschamps said: “Kylian is a young player who has lots of talent, as he’s proved at this World Cup.

Hugo Lloris is not fearful of making the same mistakes again in 2018
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Hugo Lloris is not fearful of making the same mistakes again in 2018Credit: EPA

“I don’t give him special treatment. Maybe you give a bit more time to younger players because they have less experience but Kylian is clever and knows what we want.”

Deschamps admits he preferred playing to the stresses of management.

He said: “When you’re a player you’re an actor. As a coach you can only play through players, you have to be at their service.

"The match belongs to the players.

“My success is linked to their success but when you’re a player it’s the most beautiful thing.”

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