Lloris backs players
FRANCE captain Hugo Lloris has launched an impassioned defence of World Cup stars who have “too much pressure” on them to criticise the tournament hosts, as Australia struggles to escape the brave stance it took against Qatar’s human rights record.
The Socceroos have yet to field a full training session – with coach Graham Arnold’s Europe-based players arriving later on Monday – forcing alltime great, and now Qatar Legacy Ambassador, Tim Cahill to make up the numbers during a session on Sunday.
But it is the three-minute video released by the Socceroos last month that continues to make headlines as players and media descend on Qatar ahead of the tournament opener on Sunday.
Striker Mitchell Duke was asked about the stance with the opening question of his press conference on Monday but refused to elaborate on what Australia would consider a success when it came to shining a light on the rights of migrant workers and same-sex relationships in Qatar.
“To be honest we timed things well with what we said – we’ve done that purposefully before we all came into camp because our main priority now once we’ve turned up is focusing on the football side of things,” Duke said. “What we said in that video is covered, it should be heard and now we are just focused on the football to be honest. That’s what we’ve spoken about now.
“We’ve got a certain job to handle here at the World Cup, to represent Australia and do our job. That’s basically our priority to be honest. Everything’s been said in the video.”
Duke’s comments came as the captain of Australia’s first opponent became the latest star to defend players amid the controversies plaguing the host nation – suggesting it was politicians who should be fielding such queries.
Lloris will wear a rainbowcoloured “One Love” armband at the tournament, one of nine European captains to pledge to do so. But he believes it is right to fall in line with FIFA’s statement last week that all nations must now “focus on the football” – an edict to which the Socceroos are adhering.
“There’s too much pressure on the players. We are at the bottom of the chain,” Lloris said. “If you have to apply pressure, first of all it had to be 10 years ago. Now it’s too late. You have to understand that for players this opportunity happens every four years and you want every chance to succeed.
“The focus has to be on the field. The rest is for politicians. We are athletes.”
Lloris and Duke could come face-to-face on the field next week, with the Australian promising to bring the physicality if he earns a spot in Arnold’s starting XI. Arnold has made a point of wanting to pick 11 “boxing kangaroos” with a win-at-all-costs mentality – something the workaholic Duke embodies to a tee.
“That’s definitely been one of the main topics is our physicality, running them into the ground and not backing down,” Duke said.