Hugo Lloris, from the top of his 139 selections, is advancing towards his 4th final phase of the World Cup (November 20-December 18). This Monday, he appeared in front of the press in the Clairefontaine auditorium to scan the news of the defending champions.
Your president recently let it be known that he was not in favor that you wear a captain’s armband with colored bands for the defense of human rights. How do you react ?
HUGO LLORIS. Before doing things, you need the agreement of FIFA and its Federation. Noël Le Graët does not necessarily see this as a good thing. And I somewhat agree with his opinion. In France, when we welcome foreigners, we often want them to comply with our rules. I have my personal opinion. But I have to show that I have respect for Qatar.
Are the Blues considering joint action to denounce the non-respect of human rights?
I cannot answer you now, but something will be done and put in place. You will be kept informed in due time, shortly, I think.
As a citizen, are you aware that it seems difficult not to position yourself?
Football has taken a very important place in our society. Everyone must be free to defend their opinions. But we are not insensitive to these questions. We’ve been discussing these kinds of topics with my teammates for some time now. We ask more and more of the players. But I think we have to stay focused on the game. Outside, everyone is free to express themselves and defend their opinions.
What about the discussions with the FFF on the file of image rights and the charter on sponsors?
We have been heard. Efforts are being made on both sides. An agreement will be found soon. But we put it aside because we are focused on this major event. This is an opportunity that presents itself every four years, we want to put the odds on our side. But for the good of the players present and for the future, we must move forward on this convention. I have no doubt that it will lead to an agreement.
LDoes the return to a four-man defense satisfy you?
We have been exposed too much in recent competitions. We discussed it but it is the coach who makes the decisions. We have suffered defensively lately, that’s probably why there was this change. It’s up to us, players, to bring results.
Since 2010, none of the world champions have passed the first round. Are you thinking about it?
We cannot not think about it. The coach and his staff have prepared the best team possible, even if there have been a combination of circumstances with injuries. Being defending champions means that we are a team to beat, we have been able to feel that in recent years. Since the coronation in Russia we feel opponents even more motivated to face us. There is the danger of the first matches, you have to prepare them well. We all know the importance of starting a competition well.
Do you feel invested with more responsibilities in the absence of Paul Pogba?
I’m not going to do more or do less. To each his own leadership. When it goes in the direction of the collective, it can only be a good thing. I’m excited about the idea of playing a World Cup. We always try to respond.
How do you view the many defections, the latest being that of Kimpembe?
It’s never easy to deal with last-minute injuries. It was already hard for Paul and N’Golo (Editor’s note: Pogba and Kanté). For Mike, for Presnel, it’s a lot of disappointment. When there are absentees, I tend to say that it gives opportunities to other players. It’s up to them to seize them. In general when there is a success, it is not linked to one, two or three players but to a collective. The players have the talent to win.
With Steve Mandanda and Alphonse Areola, you are in a land of knowledge. What does it say?
We know each other very well, we also experienced the coronation in 2018 and we have very good memories of it. Afterwards, the vagaries mean that Mike will not be with us. We are pleased to find Steve, because we have been following each other for many years. He is doing good things with Stade Rennais after a complicated year last season in Marseille, we can only be respectful of that. He has a legitimacy towards the group. Its place is very preponderant in the locker room. He is a leader.