Lloris: My World Cup and I have been a lifelong love story

Former French national team captain Lloris, who currently plays for MLS side Los Angeles, recalled the 2018 World Cup in Russia where they won the tournament with a 4-2 win over Croatia in the final, and he also spoke about his relationship with the tournament.

On that rainy night at the Luzhniki Stadium in 2018, Lloris captained France to the Hercules Cup: "It's hard to put into words the feeling that you feel like you're in the clouds, you feel like you're on top of the world. Your whole life flashes before your eyes. You carry the weight of history in your hands, and the trophy itself is heavy enough, but even more so in a historical sense - it's almost a pun. Lowry said.

The former Tottenham goalkeeper had two chances to lift the coveted trophy before the World Cup in Russia, making his debut at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but France ended poorly in the group stage and finished bottom of Group A. Four years later, France had the better side to perform, but in the end they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 1-0 to eventual champions Germany. After the World Cup in Brazil, Lloris and his teammates finally had a lucky third chance as France eventually won the World Cup in Russia, adding another star to their 1998 triumph on home soil.

"During my time with the national team, I've had highs and lows," Lloris said in January 2023 announcing his retirement from the national team. Despite having to deal with very different emotions when playing for his country, he really didn't think that one day he would be able to enjoy the final victory in the World Cup. "I remember in the restaurant at our training ground, there were pictures of every World Cup winning captain lifting the trophy, but I never thought it would be my turn one day. It's an honour to win the World Cup and I'm forever grateful to my teammates for allowing me to have this experience. Although it was the captain's right to lift the trophy first, I couldn't have done it without the help of my teammates and everyone in the team. It was a shared success, and it created a bond between us. It's wonderful to have the privilege of lifting the Hercules Cup. ”

Although that moment of glory was short-lived, the wise words of France's experienced head coach Didier Deschamps (captain of France when they won the World Cup in 1998) ensured Lloris was ready for it. "I remember the manager whispering something in my ear before I lifted the trophy and he said: 'Enjoy the moment. I certainly listened at the time, but I didn't really understand what he meant. It wasn't until we lifted the trophy and that moment had passed that I understood what he meant. ”

From the glory of Russia to the pain of Qatar

Lloris came close to making history at the World Cup in Qatar after Russia, when he had the chance to become the first captain to lead the team to two World Cup titles. After another impressive tournament, France eventually lost to Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties. Now, more than a year after that fateful night, Lori is still proud, despite some regrets. "Considering the course of the game, all the importance and the emotional ups and downs we went through, it took me quite a while to come to terms with it all. However, I will never forget that I won the World Cup in 2018 and then played two World Cup finals in four and a half years, which is quite remarkable. ”

The final against Argentina culminated in Lloris' farewell dance for the French national team, who became the most capped player for the French national team with a record of 145 games. Raphael Varane, another mainstay in France's defence, followed suit and announced his decision to retire from the national team in February 2023. Although losing the final in Qatar was not the reason for Lloris' decision, he felt it was time to end his national team career. "I made my decision a few days after the final. Winning the 2022 World Cup was the last thing I wanted to achieve in the French national team, and that was what got me out of bed every morning. ”

"To be honest, 15 years as a France international, especially when you're captain, playing in a major tournament every two years is very tiring, physically and emotionally, and it all has an impact in the end. In making the decision to retire, the World Cup-winning captain was comforted from a de facto point of view, knowing that he had handed over the position of goalkeeper for France to a strong successor, and Mainian had proven himself to be a more capable successor. "Everything was ready for me to abdicate. We have dressing room leaders and a couple of captains in the team, and Didier Deschamps' contract extension is very reassuring. ”

Lloris, the current No. 1 goalkeeper for MLS Los Angeles, also spoke about the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, though he is not sure if he will be there to watch all the exciting games. "Wherever I am, I'm going to keep an eye on it because I love the World Cup. Through my career, I've developed a bond with the tournament and I'm going to follow it in a different way, different from the way I played in it. ”

The sight of the world's greatest football event returning to North America reminded Lowry of childhood memories. While the former Tottenham goalkeeper's World Cup highlights came in Moscow and Lusail, his love for the World Cup began in the United States in 1994. "My earliest football memory is that game. Even though the French team didn't play, I remember watching it on TV. I remember I had two sticker sets at the time: one to collect stickers and the other to make match predictions. I thought Brazil was going to win, so I did a good job of that! Lori joked.

The Californian newcomer believes the next World Cup will be a truly outstanding tournament. "In terms of infrastructure in the United States, I was pleasantly surprised by the popularity of football. There are great expectations for this competition. Of course I don't know what it was like before, but now all the stadiums are packed, the fans are always shouting and there are a lot of fan groups. I can also attest that Los Angeles is a real football city. Los Angeles FC fans will never stop singing. The atmosphere in the stadium was warm and everyone was excited. It's a real football club and I'm very happy to be here. I also think the 2026 World Cup will be a very special World Cup. ”

The 23rd edition of the World Cup will be expanded to 48 teams, replacing the original 32-team format, and will be the most competitive World Cup ever. "It's a great change because it gives more countries the chance to make their dreams come true, and it will include a new knockout stage for the round of 32. I don't think it will affect the level of the game because right now, even the smallest national teams are well trained and capable of playing well. ”

With the long-awaited tournament just around the corner, Lloris is also ready to be a fan of the French team, proud of his contribution to World Cup history and can't wait to see how the next chapter unfolds. Lloris concludes with a sentence that sums up his special relationship with the World Cup: "When it comes to the World Cup and me, it's a lifelong love. ”