France's national soccer team goalkeeper Hugo Lloris attends a news conference at the training camp in Clairefontaine, near Paris, in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, May 19, 2014. REUTERS/Charles Platiau
CLAIREFONTAINE France (Reuters) - France captain Hugo Lloris on Monday urged his team mates to maintain their form and unity as they began preparations for the World Cup finals. Les Bleus, whose 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 campaigns were marred by off-field trouble, have been erasing memories of their sometimes farcical disharmony in South Africa and Ukraine with an improved sense of purpose under the guidance of new coach Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 World Cup-winning French team.
After losing 2-0 away to Ukraine in the first leg of their playoff last November, France recovered to win the return game 3-0 and qualify for Brazil. They followed that triumph with an uplifting and convincing 2-0 win against the Netherlands two months ago.
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