French President Francois Hollande speaks during a news conference at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday
A victory for France over Portugal in Sunday's European soccer
Championship final would give the country a welcome morale boost, French
President Francois Hollande said on Saturday.
"I am not a player nor the coach and I deserve no credit for the
France team's successes," Hollande, a keen soccer fan who has attended
several matches at the June 10-July 10 tournament in France, told a NATO
conference in Warsaw.
"I do believe, however, that it (a final win) would have a positive
influence on the morale of the French population by making them not only
happy but also proud of their team and what it stands for," he said.
"A victory ... always gives a country the feeling that it can
succeed, not only in sport but also in economy and culture, on the
international stage, in politics and diplomacy," he added.
"It would therefore bring some extra confidence."
France is hoping the "feel good factor" of a successful Euro 2016
will fire up a tentative economic recovery, although the direct impact
will be short lived.
Hollande must also certainly be hoping a winning French team will
give his dismal popularity ratings a desperately needed fillip.
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