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Lloris, Deschamps shy away from 'favourites' tag

Reuters

PARIS - France captain Hugo Lloris insisted Les Bleus "don't feel like favourites" despite being fancied to win Euro 2016.

The hosts start the 24-team tournament at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday against Romania and hope to emulate the French sides that won Euro 1984 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup at home.

Lloris insisted more should be expected of world champion Germany and title holder Spain despite France being one of the top contenders to lift the trophy on July 10.

"We don't feel like favourites at all, I don't think we've proved anything thus far if we compare ourselves to Spain and Germany," said the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper.

"Playing on home soil is a positive we have over the other sides and we need to make the most of that.

"We've won nine of the last 10 matches, but we still have everything to do and I hope from tomorrow night we start with a victory."

French coach Didier Deschamps was captain in 1998 when an ethnically diverse squad united the nation with its success.

Now he is charged with lifting the spirits of a country beset by social unrest and fears of a repeat of the attacks that hit Paris in November killing 130 people.

However, Deschamps also played down France's tag as favourites.

"Based on their experience and results over the last few years these two sides Germany, as the reigning world champions, and Spain, based on what they have achieved, begin the competition with the legitimate aim of being able to win it."

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