Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/329964
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JUNE 2014 51 EMILIO RAPPOLD, DPA AFTER the shambles of South Af- rica, France start their World Cup campaign minus injured Franck Ribery but with optimism high - first come Honduras. Ribeirao Preto, Brazil (dpa) - France have banished the evil spirits of South Africa - now Les Bleus minus Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery are out to restore their good name on football's world stage. The fiasco of the 2010 World Cup when France went out in the group stage and several players staged a training-ground strike has not been entirely forgotten. Now the French have an oppor- tunity to make amends with a new- look squad who take on Honduras in a Group E match in Porto Alegre on Sunday. "We want to play a great World Cup," midfielder Blaise Matuidi said. Only four players now remain from the 2010 World Cup campaign, and the 27-year-old Paris St Germain player, who with 23 caps is one of the more experienced of Didier Des- champs' squad in Ribeirao Preto, says no one is now thinking of the past. "The past is past. We are looking ahead," he said. "Of course we have a lot of ambi- tion, but we remain humble because we know where we've come from and things can happen very quickly in football. "We won't get carried away. We have our feet on the ground, but we're aware that we have a good team and that we can do something good at this World Cup." France only got to Brazil via the play-offs, having lost 2-0 away to Ukraine in the first leg before win- ning at home 3-0. Ribery, who was in the 2010 squad, has withdrawn with back problems, leaving four from the party in South Africa: keeper Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Patrice Evra and Mathieu Valbuena. Promising youngsters have come in, including midfield dy- namo Paul Pogba. The 21-year-old Juventus player could be a stand-out figure in Brazil if France do well, but first Les Bleus have to negotiate a group that also includes Ecuador and Switzerland. Honduras, who have denied criti- cism of being over-physical in recent friendlies, are not short of confi- dence, and the players under coach Luis Fernando Suarez believe a first victory at a World Cup final in what is the nation's third appearance is only a matter of time. Defender Maynor Figueroa said: "We are all completely confident that we won't just win for the first time but go through from the group." And striker Jerry Bengtson said at their Porto Feliz base in Sao Paulo state: "We are hungry for fame. We want to show the world what we can do." Matuidi said France certainly won't be underestimating their opponents, mentioning Stoke's former Tot- tenham player Wilson Palacios as a threat, but expects his side to have more of the ball. "We're expecting them to sit deep and play on the break," he said. "They have some quality players who play good football. I'm think- ing of Palacios in midfield, who has played for a big club in Europe. But there's not just him, so we'll have to be vigilant." France look forward, not back, as World Cup campaign starts French national soccer player Paul Pogba. Photo by EPA/YOAN VALAT France's national head coach Didier Deschamps. Photo by EPA/YOAN VALAT YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt