French football legend Zinedine Zidane has tipped the French national team to put in a good performance at Euro 2016, which kicks-off on Friday night, although he did not answer whether France were good enough to go all the way.
Hosts France, who take on Romania on Friday night, are widely considered favourites to win Europe’s biggest tournament.
“I know what it feels like playing a big tournament at home, having done so myself during the 1998 World Cup. The current French team is very good and the expectation is that they will play well. Even if they don’t win, it is important that they play well,” the three-time World Player of the Year told reporters on Thursday
At 43, Zidane is still as fit as the best footballers in the world.
“I have kept the same discipline as a manager that I had as a player,” he said.
Zidane has a packed day on Friday, attending a press conference in the afternoon before watching the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Paul and Renedy Singh play in a five-a-side exhibition match at National Sports Club of India, Mumbai.
According to a source, Zidane will not play in the match because his contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he is the manager, stipulates that he cannot even touch a football during other promotional events.
{{/usCountry}}According to a source, Zidane will not play in the match because his contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he is the manager, stipulates that he cannot even touch a football during other promotional events.
{{/usCountry}}He is also slated to attend a fashion show later in the day and a panel discussion on fitness with former India pacer Zaheer Khan and Bollywood star Bipasha Basu.