France vs Romania: Preview

France vs Romania – June 10th, 8pm, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Switzerland vs France – June 19th , 8pm , Stade Pierre Mauroy Lille, Metropole
Ones to watch


France may be blessed with a host of top names, especially in midfield, but few are as exceptional as Paul Pogba. The Juventus star can play as a number 10 or an anchorman and has already been showing he can replicate his best form in blue.


Tottenham fans may not have fond memories of Vlad Chiriches from his season at White Hart Lane but he remains a key player for Anghel  Iordanescu, who has made the 26-year-old his captain.
Team news and probable line ups

The key talking point in France’s warm-up fixtures has been whether Olivier Giroud should lead the line in the absence of Karim Benzema, who Deschamps did not consider due to ongoing legal issues. The Arsenal forward was booed in Monday’s win over Cameroon in Nantes but has hit back at his critics, scoring three in two friendly wins over the Indomitable Lions and Scotland.
Giroud has answered his critics - Deschamps

West Ham star Dimitri Payet can also expect to feature after scoring a free-kick in the Cameroon win. Antoine Griezmann or Kingsley Coman could also feature in a front three whilst Adil Rami will be drafted into a backline short of injured duo Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu.

France: Lloris, Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Kante, Matuidi, Coman, Payet, Giroud

Romania ended their preparations for Euro 2016 on a high-note, hammering five past Georgia in Bucharest. Having conceded just two goals in 10 qualifying games Iordanescu’ side have cut loose in their warmup games and also netted three against Ukraine in Turin.

It has come at something of a cost though, with the second and third goals against Ukraine not coming until after Romania had conceded four. Iordanescu will be desperate for his side to recover their discipline before they step out at the Stade de France.

Romania: Tatarusanu, Sapunaru, Chiriches, Grigore, Rat, Pintilii, Hoban, Torje, Stanciu, Stancu, Andone
What they’re saying

Griezmann: “We have great players that play in great teams, so I think we have the squad to win it.
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Every time Payet touches the ball something happens - Deschamps

“But we will have to be strong, we'll have to win our three first games and then, we will see what can happen.

“There's a good atmosphere and it's a great group. There are lots of jokes in the dressing room and we like each other’s’ company. And you can see it on the pitch. We really go 100 per cent for each other and we always try to help our team-mates.”

Iordanescu: “There are many players who lack rhythm, who had problems at their teams. There are lots of players without matches in their feet.”