The pressure of being the hosts can either get to you and lead to disastrous results or motivate you with the results taking that positive path. France will hope they deal with the pressure in a positive way as they kickoff Euro 2016 with a Group A match against Romania at the State de France on Friday.
With the entire nation looking for something to cheer for, after a difficult last few months, there is heaps of pressure on Didier Deschamps and his 23 players. One of the best ways to just ease that pressure a touch is to get off to a great start against Romania, something the France coach is confident of doing.
"Pressure must be avoided at all costs," Deschamps told L'Equipe. "Pressure is negative. What we need is adrenaline and excitement. The context and environment are favourable to us and shouldn't make us weaker.
"Some may be more sensitive to things than others, but on the pitch we must absolutely not be asking questions of ourselves."
"There's always pressure," France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac added. "Now we have to turn it into positive pressure because we're at home, and playing in front of our fans will certainly give us an even bigger boost. The France team is currently as popular as it's ever been, which is what we need for a successful Euro.
France certainly have the squad to go all the way. In Hugo Lloris, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, while they have a solid backline, who, if they gel, will do well – the central defence is a little bit suspect, but Laurent Koscielny has the experience and will hope to form a solid partnership with either Adil Rami or Elaiquim Mangala.
Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches in the central midfield department, with N'Gole Kante already taking to the international football like a duck to water – much like he did in the Premier League last season -- while Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi will be the driving forces.
The attacking line is what makes this France side most exciting, and that is even without Karim Benzema in the squad. Antoine Griezmann should be France's ace going forward, while Olivier Giroud has struck form at the right time. Then there is the talented Dimitri Payet, the young and exciting Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial and the experienced Gignac.
Romania have not been given much of a chance of progressing from Group A, and that will suit them quite well. Being the underdogs can sometimes work in your favour and what Romania will target is surprising this France side, who will have all the spotlight on them, when those 90 minutes come into play.
France, though, will know they will not be handed a win by Romania. Earn it they must, but with the amount of attacking talent at their disposal, the hosts certainly can do that, and more.
France vs Romania Euro 2016 Match 1 schedule:
Date: Friday, June 10.
Time: 9 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. BST, 12.30 a.m. IST).
Venue: Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
TV listings: India and subcontinent: Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. UK: ITV and BBC. US: ESPN. France: TF1 and Bein Sports. Canada: TSN. Germany: ORF1. Spain: TeleCinco Espana. Australia and the Middle East: Bein Sports and SBS. South Africa: Supersport. Singapore: Singtel. Malaysia: Astro Supersport. South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport Africa.
