MELVINE MALARD is relishing France’s tough Euros opener against England and a few of her Manchester United pals later.
It is what the forward expects from her experience of playing alongside Red Devils stars Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Maya Le Tissier.
Melvine Malard has been in fine form for France scoring a hat-trick against Belgium ahead of their Euros opening clash with England[/caption]
The France star is relishing going up against the Lionesses whose players include Man United’s Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Maya Le Tissier[/caption]
Toone could be in line to start for England in the Euros holders’ Group D duel with France in Zurich, Switzerland[/caption]
The in-form France ace, 25, who joined Man United from Lyon in September 2023, counts the Lioness trio among her mates.
Friends she enjoys going to battle with in pursuit of domestic honours in a Red Devils shirt.
But at 8:00pm tonight in Zurich, Switzerland, friendship will be put to one side with Malard and her compatriots hoping to topple the Euros holders.
Ahead of the clash at the Letzigrund Stadium, Malard said “It’s very special for me because we play England and I have good team-mates in England.
“All the (United) players (with England) are my friends.
“Maya is very strong. Sometimes in training the fight is hard against her, but I love it!
“Ella is a different type of player, very skilled and very intelligent on the ball.
“For me it’s very good to play against these girls because we are friends. But I will be giving 100% for France.
“This is a very tough group because it’s a group of teams with very different styles.”
Unlike England, France are still waiting to achieve their dream of being crowned Europe’s football queens for the first time.
While they reached the semis of the last Euros and World Cup, the team are yet to star in a major tournament final.
But following eight wins in their last nine international fixtures, Malard hopes this will be their year.
The 29-capped France forward and four-time Champions League winner added: “Our objective is to go far in this competition.
“We need to have a lot of positive energy and not just for this moment (the game against England) but also for the chance of playing in the final.
“I don’t feel any pressure. We know what we want and what we can do.
“It’s the time for us to go far (in these Euros) because we would like to win at least one trophy and we can do that this month.”
Along with England, France are in a group of death which includes contest debutants Wales and 2017 champions Holland.
However the team are likely to fancy their chances of giving their rivals a run for their money given their recent form.
Under head coach Laurent Bonadei, who took charge after Herve Renard’s departure last summer, France have been in fine form.
Their last loss occurred last December with world champions Spain beating them 4-2 in a friendly.
Since then Les Bleues have been thorn in their rivals’ sides with Norway, Switzerland, Belgium and Brazil amongst their beaten foes.
Their 5-0 friendly drubbing of Belgium in June included Malard bagging a hat-trick as they fired a pre-Euros warning.
The forward, whose senior club career began at Lyon in 2017, feels a mentality shift since moving to England has helped her form.
Malard said: “My mentality has changed in that I’m more open than I was before.
France the Lionesses will also take on the Netherlands and Euros debutant Wales in the tournament’s group stage[/caption]
“I feel very good in England and the Man United fans have given me a lot of confidence..
“When you listen to people sing your name in the stadium, it’s a very good feeling for the player.
“We play football for this energy, for this moment and in England I have that.”
