Euro 2016: A matter of pride for Les Bleus

UEFA Euro 2016 is well and truly underway, and we’re beginning to see what all the teams are made of. The hosts, France, started out with a nervy 2-1 win over Romania, and they know that they’ll have to step it up if they’re to live up to the hype built around them.

The French are looking to continue their impressive record in tournaments on home soil, and they have some real motivation that they will hope to use to bag yet another major international crown. Let us explore why this particular tournament means so much:

The Paris terror attacks

Paris is a beautiful city which epitomises love and tranquillity. Not so on 13 November 2015, when a series of co-ordinated terror attacks brought the French capital to its knees, where terrorists killed 130 people and injured a further 368. It was one of the worst terror attacks the world had ever seen.

Seven months on, Paris is still healing from the tragedy, and Euro 2016 has been a real blessing in bringing the people of France together as they attempt to cope with the aftermath. This is probably the single most important reason for France to have a great showing. Football is the most popular game in France, and Les Bleus winning the tournament would go a long way in bringing some real joy to the lives of every French citizen.