France's 47-year-old coach has been doing his best not to talk about his successes as a player at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 as he prepares a new generation to sparkle on home soil at UEFA EURO 2016.UEFA.com: With no competitive games since the 2014 World Cup finals, has it been hard to keep your players motivated?Didier Deschamps: No, it hasn't. We play every match to win, even when it's a friendly. We've had prestigious matches against the top sides in Europe; we know it's no substitute for competitive football, but that's what finals hosts have to face for two years. It's about setting different targets. It allows you grea...
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Stars of UEFA EURO 2016: France’s Paul Pogba
At a glanceNamed best young player at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Paul Pogba, not 23 until March, is expected to take even more of a starring role at UEFA EURO 2016 on home soil. The former Manchester United prospect now makes Juventus tick and has already racked up nearly 150 appearances for the Bianconeri. He is fast becoming an equally talismanic presence for his country.International pedigreePogba not only won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013, he was honoured as player of the tournament. A year later, he figured in all five France games at the World Cup in Brazil, edging out compatriot Raphaël Varane and Netherlands forward Memphis Depay...