Germany legend Lothar Matthaus previews Friday’s Euro 2016 opener between France and Romania for SunSport
Two-time European Championships winner gives SunSport a tactical breakdown of where clash will be won and lost in Paris
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German legend Lothar Matthaus has joined SunSport to give you his tactical breakdown of Euro 2016.
Lothar’s Lowdown will tell you where the game of the day will be won and lost. The 55-year-old played for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, winning Euro 1980 and the 1990 World Cup.
Thoroughbred Pogba
In this tournament I am expecting the big teams to play attacking football.
That is the key to winning and France are a team that likes to attack. They press hard and I like a lot about them.
I love Paul Pogba. He is the brain of the team, the sort of player I’d want in my side.
He helps secure the defence but is just as vital as an attacking weapon and will ensure France go on the front foot.
The thing about Pogba is he plays everywhere. He might start on the left but will cover the ground.
Blaise Matuidi and N’Golo Kante will have to do the covering work but it will all be about Pogba pushing forward.
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Driving them crazy
I expect Pogba and Matuidi to join Anthony Martial and Antoine Griezmann in driving Romania back.
It means Stancu and Popa will have to be focused on their defensive duties and will end up playing a 4-4-1-1.
They will have eight players between the edge of the box and the halfway line, with Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna coming at them from the back as well, meaning France will basically play three defenders — Kante and two centre-backs.
I hope Olivier Giroud plays as the striker. He is certainly in form. He’s not so great technically but is a threat physically and they need that to give them definition.
Romania are good defensively but Hoban and Pintilii will be pushed back, too.
Evra the Achilles heel
If the Romanians can attack down their right and isolate Patrice Evra, they can get some success.
He is their weak point and at some stage teams will look at France, see Evra is not the player he was and vulnerable to pace and get after them.
We may see signs of that tonight, but I’m not sure Romania will be able to cause France enough problems as only Stancu, their playmaker, and Andone will get forward. I don’t think there will be enough support.
Romania have to keep France at bay and hope they become nervous but I don’t think that will happen. The longer it stays 0-0 the better for Romania.
But France have a number of options off the bench. I take them to win 3-0.