Publications
Partners
Cape Town - France captain Hugo Lloris believes that Les Bleus are beginning to win over their supporters after a tumultuous few years.
The French hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with a player mutiny and an exit at the group stages met - as one would expect - with widespread disapproval.
A quarter-final finish at the 2012 European Championships and a mediocre World Cup qualifying campaign, which saw France forced to qualify through the play-offs, only added to the team's poor reputation on home soil.
However, with Didier Deschamps' men playing an attractive brand of football and displaying the team harmony they have previously lacked, matters appear to be improving both on and off the field.
"We have noticed a change, a rekindled fondness from the fans," commented Lloris.
"There have been some ups and downs in the past few years that's true.
"We have done what we needed and made the effort on the pitch to make the fans happy so far, but we want to go further."
France will face Nigeria on Monday in the last 16 of the competition, bidding to book their place in the quarter-finals where they will meet either Germany or Algeria.
The French hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with a player mutiny and an exit at the group stages met - as one would expect - with widespread disapproval.
A quarter-final finish at the 2012 European Championships and a mediocre World Cup qualifying campaign, which saw France forced to qualify through the play-offs, only added to the team's poor reputation on home soil.
However, with Didier Deschamps' men playing an attractive brand of football and displaying the team harmony they have previously lacked, matters appear to be improving both on and off the field.
"We have noticed a change, a rekindled fondness from the fans," commented Lloris.
"There have been some ups and downs in the past few years that's true.
"We have done what we needed and made the effort on the pitch to make the fans happy so far, but we want to go further."
France will face Nigeria on Monday in the last 16 of the competition, bidding to book their place in the quarter-finals where they will meet either Germany or Algeria.
