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Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris Wary of Iceland’s Mentality

By Alexander Balano

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Hugo Lloris of France in action during training session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between France and Romania at Stade de France on June 9, 2016 in Paris, France. France and Romania will contest the opening match of the tournament on June 10. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Hugo Lloris of France in action during training session ahead of the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between France and Romania at Stade de France on June 9, 2016 in Paris, France. France and Romania will contest the opening match of the tournament on June 10. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham goalkeeper and captain, Hugo Lloris, spoke with the media prior to France’s meeting against Iceland tomorrow, as Les Bleus looks to book their ticket into the semi-finals.

From Leicester City’s Premier League winning campaign, to major letdowns from England and Belgium at the hands of Iceland and Wales, respectively, in the Euros. To the USMNT equaling their best ever finish (fourth) in the Copa América, to Chile repeating as champions over Argentina.

It has been a story of the underdogs in football for seven months since the start of the New Year. And it’s something that could continue tomorrow when France takes on an Icelandic team who looks as if they are playing for fun. It’s a mindset that has triumphed over talented nations.

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Speaking at a pre-match news conference before tomorrow’s match, Tottenham and France’s goalkeeper and captain, Hugo Lloris, has been wary from the very beginning of this tournament.

"“We didn’t need to see the Wales result to be wary of every team in the competition,” Lloris said (via ESPN FC).“There have been surprises from the outset of this tournament. It’s not enough to just be a top side to make it into the top four.”“The sides who have played the best football are not necessarily in the competition anymore.”“I think now it is about the team mindset. A team’s mental strength can make the difference and we must focus on that against Iceland.”"

As mentioned earlier, Leicester had the mental strength to close out last season as Premier League champions with Tottenham inching close before Mauricio Pochettino’s squad eventually collapsed in the final four games, going winless.

Whenever a club or a national team has the right mentality, they can achieve great things even if they don’t necessarily have a talented or deep squad compared to others. Wales, Iceland and even USA are proof as they showed this summer.

Tottenham, and again, Leicester are fine examples too from last season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur (R) warms up prior to the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at White Hart Lane on March 17, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur (R) warms up prior to the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at White Hart Lane on March 17, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

With both France and Iceland going undefeated on their way to the quarter-finals, the host nation hasn’t exactly been playing to their full capabilities.

After all, they are one of the favorites to win the Euros with a squad as deep and talented as theirs. But at the end of the day, a win is still a win. Something that Hugo Lloris joked as this has been the French way in this tournament: late comeback wins.

"“That’s very French, I would say,” Lloris added.More from Hotspur HQStorybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s RicharlisonTottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivatedTottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield UnitedTottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield UnitedTottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help“From my side of things it’s not a great problem to not have a great start to the match. What is important is achieving the result you want.”“What does bother me is having [a] spoke between our wheels through a lack of aggressiveness. That’s what led to the penalty [against Republic of Ireland] and could be a problem for the team.”“Conceding within a couple of minutes could be terminal for the team’s chances. So far we are able to bounce back, but it is better to avoid that.”"

Back to the France and Iceland match-up, for Tottenham fans, it’s easy to look at this Icelandic team as the one that Gylfi Sigurðsson plays for.

But now, he isn’t the only good player on the squad. Hugo Lloris was quick to praise his former teammate and offered his thought as to why Iceland have been successful.

"“He [Sigurðsson] is a great player.” Hugo Lloris continued.“Unfortunately, the fact that he’s Icelandic means he isn’t so well known in France, but he is very highly rated on the other side of the channel.”“They [Iceland] have two or three players with high quality.”“What makes Iceland so strong is that they are a tight, compact unit showing plenty of solidarity.”"

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It will be interesting to see who advances into the final four. Surely Mauricio Pochettino wouldn’t mind seeing his last two Tottenham players squaring off in the finals, Lloris with France and Ben Davies with Wales.

At the same time, it’s probably for the best that both come home to get some well deserved rest before getting ready for pre-season and the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

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