Mates’ bid for glory Spur-ed on by Lloris
HUGO LLORIS says this World Cup is putting Tottenham on the map
– and he wants to see a Spurs player win it.
Lloris pulled off a wonder save as France beat Uruguay to reach the semi-finals, where his club-mates Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele lie in wait with Belgium.
The likes of England’s Harry Kane and Denmark’s Christian Eriksen have also starred for their nations at the tournament.
But Lloris thinks it is time Spurs fans finally got to brag their team won the World Cup the way Arsenal fans do about France 98 and West Ham’s still do about 1966.
He said: “I think this World Cup is very good for the image of the club.
It is good experience and good for the future of the club. We will see.
“Hopefully a Tottenham player will become a World Cup winner.
“Obviously there is one I wish for the most! We will see, there are still two games to go. We will see.”
Lloris also reserved special praise for Spurs team-mate Davinson Sanchez, who was outstanding in Colombia’s penalty shootout loss to England in the Round of 16.
He said: “He played an amazing game against England. It is unfair they had to go to a penalty shootout to make the difference. It is a fantastic moment when football goes on your side.
“But it is terrible when it goes against you.
“He is still young and he will make a great football player, for sure. He has a great future for Tottenham and for Colombia.”
France are now many people’s favourites to win the trophy but Lloris said: “I don’t think so. Belgium beat Brazil, a nation with all its talent and history. That makes them favourites.
“But we don’t want to stop at this stage.
“We want to go on and it’s important that we believe in ourselves – and we do. It will be a big, big fight and I hope we are ready for it.”
Meanwhile, France coach Didier Deschamps says his side are still far from a finished product and are only getting better.
“We had a complicated first round, without being flamboyant but realistic and effective,” he said. “We did not break our stride. But from the match against Argentina, we have grown in strength.” THERE is such a strong Premier League presence in the Belgium squad that they could field a starting line-up made up entirely of English-based players.
In fact, they have so many that poor Simon Mignolet would have to sit on the bench!
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) would be the man between the sticks with Mignolet (Liverpool) in reserve.
They could play a back three of Vincent Kompany (Man City), Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen (right, both Spurs).
A midfield of Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Mousa Dembele (Spurs), Nacer Chadli (West Brom) and Marouane Fellaini (Man United) would strike fear into opponents’ hearts.
And up front, Romelu Lukaku (Man United) would be partnered by Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea).
And the links to English football do not stop there. Thomas Vermaelen is a former Arsenal captain, Adnan Januzaj burst on the scene at Manchester United, Thorgan Hazard was with Chelsea for three years and Dedryck Boyata counts Manchester City among his former clubs.
Oh, and do not forget that boss Roberto Martinez is a Wigan legend! STEVE MILLARSteve