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PARIS: Manchester United defender Patrice Evra says he will give “300 per cent†effort to propel France to the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.
Evra has tasted success of late, winning two Premier Leagues and a Champions League title since joining the English giants in 2006 – and his appetite for further honours is as keen as ever.
“With the French team it's no laughing matter – the shirt is supreme,†Evra said from the squad's training camp north of Paris on Thursday.
“If you give 100 per cent to your club, you have to give 300 per cent to the French team.â€
Raymond Domenech's men open their qualifying campaign today against Austria, with the visit of Serbia four days later, and the under-fire French coach admitted midweek that he was revelling in the pressure.
It's an attitude that chimes with Evra as France look to bounce back from their miserable Euro 2008 campaign where they lost twice and drew once and failed to get further than the group stage.
The defender is far from guaranteed his place in the French squad, with Eric Abidal and Gael Clichy breathing down his neck – a situation he knows well from his early days with Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit.
“(The competition) pushes me to excel. I accept it as much as it's healthy,†he said.
“It's a good thing that Abidal and Clichy are behind me. When I arrived at Manchester United, it was said that (Gabriel) Heinze was the best, and I did what I had to do.â€
Evra joined United after four seasons with AS Monaco, going on to displace Heinze after some impressive performances, becoming an indispensable and talismanic presence in the Old Trafford side.
“I haven't played enough to say that I'm the first-choice,†said Evra, of his France first-team hopes.
“I played the last two matches at Euro, but the Euro is far away. Football moves so quickly... I see myself as I was before the Euro: a French squad player.
“For selection you must be the best, you can lose your place very quickly. You don't have much time, you must always prove yourself, to say to yourself this is the last time I play.â€
"If you give 100% of yourself when you play with your club, you have to give 300% with France. Here, it's L'Equipe de France, we're not here for fun, it's the supreme shirt."...and it's true...first of all - the entire nation's eyes look right at you, second of all - the competition is greater for that particular place - and third of all - he's french, not english-apart from being a player and a fan of man united there is no other relation with the club...money can't be worth more than blood...playing for your nation is the greatest achivement a player from continent can get ... it's different with english ( although i don't know why )
Evra has tasted success of late, winning two Premier Leagues and a Champions League title since joining the English giants in 2006 – and his appetite for further honours is as keen as ever.
“With the French team it's no laughing matter – the shirt is supreme,†Evra said from the squad's training camp north of Paris on Thursday.
“If you give 100 per cent to your club, you have to give 300 per cent to the French team.â€
Raymond Domenech's men open their qualifying campaign today against Austria, with the visit of Serbia four days later, and the under-fire French coach admitted midweek that he was revelling in the pressure.
It's an attitude that chimes with Evra as France look to bounce back from their miserable Euro 2008 campaign where they lost twice and drew once and failed to get further than the group stage.
The defender is far from guaranteed his place in the French squad, with Eric Abidal and Gael Clichy breathing down his neck – a situation he knows well from his early days with Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit.
“(The competition) pushes me to excel. I accept it as much as it's healthy,†he said.
“It's a good thing that Abidal and Clichy are behind me. When I arrived at Manchester United, it was said that (Gabriel) Heinze was the best, and I did what I had to do.â€
Evra joined United after four seasons with AS Monaco, going on to displace Heinze after some impressive performances, becoming an indispensable and talismanic presence in the Old Trafford side.
“I haven't played enough to say that I'm the first-choice,†said Evra, of his France first-team hopes.
“I played the last two matches at Euro, but the Euro is far away. Football moves so quickly... I see myself as I was before the Euro: a French squad player.
“For selection you must be the best, you can lose your place very quickly. You don't have much time, you must always prove yourself, to say to yourself this is the last time I play.â€
"If you give 100% of yourself when you play with your club, you have to give 300% with France. Here, it's L'Equipe de France, we're not here for fun, it's the supreme shirt."...and it's true...first of all - the entire nation's eyes look right at you, second of all - the competition is greater for that particular place - and third of all - he's french, not english-apart from being a player and a fan of man united there is no other relation with the club...money can't be worth more than blood...playing for your nation is the greatest achivement a player from continent can get ... it's different with english ( although i don't know why )
