Inter Milan and France forward Marcus Thuram has touted Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, as a source of motivation for him and national teammates.
Thuram is currently with the Les Bleus The Blues] preparing for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece.
France currently ranked second by FIFA will clash with 198th-ranked Gibraltar on Saturday, November 18 at Allianz Rivera, then face Greece in another Group B encounter at the OPAP Arena – Agia Sofia Stadium.
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While speaking on the French national team Podcast as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.com, Marcus Thuram who is the son of legendary Les Bleus defender Lillian Thuram lauded Henry for being a motivational figure for the national team.
“He is a reference point, for how he played and also his behaviour,” Thuram said.
“He is an example of what Clairefontaine is trying to create. For me, he is the perfect testimonial. I’ve known him well since I was a kid. I consider him a bit like my uncle.
“I came from an American school and was used to different timetables from those used there. I remember the first time I visited the sports centre, I noticed a ferocious increase in the level, they were all very strong, monsters.
“On the pitch, there was a not-so-tall North African boy who played alone and made incredible checks without looking at the ball, it was Amine Harit.”
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Henry scored 51 goals in 123 matches for France during his career. He won a Euros tournament, one FIFA World Cup and a FIFA Confederations Cup tournament and won several titles with Mona, Arsenal and Barcelona. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot four times.
France’s upcoming opponents, Gibraltar were granted UEFA membership a decade ago and they participated in the European Championship qualifiers a year later.
France have already qualified for Euro 2024 and they are the pacesetters in Group B with 18 points from six matches which is a 100 per cent record of six wins in six games.
Gibraltar are bottom of the Group B standings with no point after six games.
The French team have won the Euros twice (France 1984 and Belgium/Netherlands 2000).
By Toju Sote
