EURO challengers get votes of support
Monday, June 2, 2008
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The Croatia and France squads received official votes of support before departing for UEFA EURO 2008™ as they were each visited by their heads of government.
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Signed shirt
Croatian Prime Minister Dr Ivo Sanader talked football over lunch with coach Slaven Bilić and his players at the Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb. "I came to wish you luck and success at the European Championship," said Mr Sanader, who was presented with a signed shirt by Niko Kovač. "This is a gift from everyone in the team for the support you have always given us," said the Croatia captain.
'Huge pressure'
French President Nicolas Sarkozy dined with the Les Bleus squad in tandem with two of his ministers, Roselyne Bachelot and Bernard Laporte - the man who guided the French rugby team to the semi-finals of the IRB Rugby World Cup last year. Sarkozy hopes Raymond Domenech's charges will surpass that achievement, taking their pedigree in the tournament into account. "Considering your history in this competition a huge pressure is on your shoulders," he said. "But rest assured the whole country will support you."