10 June,2014 11:00 AM IST | | IANS
Winning with a large score against Reggae boys at home, Les Bleus finished in a blaze of victory their preparation for World Cup games that boosted their confidence to make victory in the international tournament
Paris: Winning with a large score against "Reggae boys" at home, Les Bleus finished in a blaze of victory their preparation for World Cup games that boosted their confidence to make victory in the international tournament.
Striker Karim Benzema was instrumental in France thrashing Jamaica 8-0 in a warm-up game
In their last warm-up match on Sunday, France thrashed Jamaica 8-0, Les Bleus' second heaviest win after squeezing Azerbaijan 10-0 in 1995 in Euro Cup qualifying, thanks to good performance of Spain-based striker Karim Benzema and Arsenal striker Oliver Giroud, reports Xinhua.
"This is a very good evening to have full of confidence, without leaving with an excess of confidence either. But it is a good thing for a game that concludes our preparation," French coach Didier Deschamps said.
France flew to Sao Paulo before heading to Ribeirao Preto, where they will set their training camp.
At Lille airport, north France, French players and their manager enjoyed a walkabout after hundreds of fans joined them to pose with them or have their autographs before their departure, in a sign that their disenchantment with the team after South Africa fiasco was put behind.
"We will not forget that. Feeling this fervour is important. It is important for players to feel that there are people who are proud of them. We will do the best possible. It is very enjoyable atmosphere," Deschamps added in remarks posted on the website of French Football Federation (FFF).
A survey showed 60 percent of French people have good opinion of French national team, a figure likely to boost players' confidence to have a fresh start after 2010 woeful World Cup performance and impose their game in Brazil.
The 1998 World Cup winners were kicked out of South Africa at the group stage without a win after showing weak performance and chaos erupted in the team and technical staff which forced Raymond Domenech to quit and be replaced by Laurent Blanc.
In a further move to give an impetus to French team, French President Francois Hollande had lunch with the 23-member squad at the end of May to deliver "a message to encourage Les Blues before the competition which is very important for many French and tell them the honor to represent France in the World Cup".
"France must be for all a source of pride, unity, mobilisation. What matters beyond the result is an image of a combative, strong and enthusiastic team," Hollande stressed.
Without Frank Ribery "the jewel of French football" who suffered from back pain, Les Bleus will open their World Cup campaign with a Group E match against Honduras on Sunday before facing Ecuador and Switzerland.
