Thierry Henry says expectations high but France can win Euro 2016

Thierry Henry discussed Arsenal’s chance at a Premier League title and France’s Euro 2016 hopes yesterday. Alex Atack for The National

DUBAI // Thierry Henry says France can win Euro 2016 next year on home soil and that Arsenal, the club where he enjoyed his best years as a player, have a genuine shot at the Premier league title.

“It’s not an easy one when you have a big competition at home,” Henry said at an event in Dubai on Thursday. “Having said that, we managed to win the World Cup [1998] and Euro ’84, which was pretty big for us.

“Yes it is in France, yes the expectations will be big. I think the team is good enough, they are actually really good.”

Henry was speaking at an event held at Sun & Sand Sports shop in Dubai. The former Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona player is a brand ambassador for Puma’s #LegendChallenge and met the winners of the competition.

“The only thing I will say that will be tricky, can they handle the pressure of playing at home?” the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner said. “We all know what Germany can do. Spain had a bad World Cup but they will be there or thereabouts, and Portugal are almost playing at home. There’s a big Portuguese community there” in France.

Of France’s chances on home soil, Henry added: “But I back them to perform, to actually win it. I’m not just saying that because I’m French. Now can they handle the pressure?”

READ MORE

He also asked that not too much pressure is heaped on a player who has been compared to Henry the player himself recently, Manchester United teenager Martial.

"People were trying to find out if he could score goals first and foremost and now the question is why is he playing on the left, why is he not in the middle?" Henry said. "We went through two month's of who is he? To why is he not playing in the middle? Let him grow, let him play. Right now I'm sure he's happy to play for Manchester United, and he has Rooney alongside him, and you need to have some kind of respect also because Wayne is still the man. But I'm sure the guy is just happy to play; let him play and we'll see what's going to happen."

Henry also spoke glowingly of his former club Arsenal, the North London club where he broke all club goalscoring records and helped Arsene Wenger’s side to two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.

“Yes they can” win the league, “they are there and thereabouts, and hopefully they can this year,” Henry said.

The key reason for Arsenal’s challenge, according to Henry, has been the emergence of Theo Walcott as genuine rival to Olivier Giroud, who the former player has in the past insisted is not adequate enough to lead the line capably as the club’s lone frontman.

“I said what I said about Giroud last year and everybody went mental,” he said. “It was nothing personal, I said it many times; he’s great striker but I thought Arsenal were missing another type of striker. You can’t be the only one there, you need two or sometimes three. And Theo came along, doing extremely well and suddenly they are sharing the load of goals.”

Henry also backed underfire Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to get the reigning English champions out of their current slump, with the club languishing in 16th place.

“For me I hope they keep him a until the end of the season and see what comes next,” he said. “No one expected that, it’s clear they are not performing. I don’t if he is going to stay, is he not going to stay. I hope he stays until the end of the season. A lot of people are having a go at him, but there is still a long way to go.”

Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE