Intro:

France coach Laurent Blanc said his team "will need to be strong" if they're to beat England in their Euro 2012 Group D opener in Donetsk on Monday (11th June), as he spoke at a press conference in Donetsk on Thursday.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (French) Laurent Blanc, France coach:

"I can tell you the English team is going to give it their all. Like everyone, they want to do well in the championship, and even more so when they play against the French, so we need to be strong. They defend well, and they have good forwards too. The match against England will be a difficult one. It is never easy to play against England."

SOUNDBITE (French) Franck Ribery, France forward:

"It is true that our bedrooms are not exceptional, but they are good enough, we will only use them to sleep. What matters is that we will all be together in the same place."

SOUNDBITE (French) Jeremy Menez, France forward:

"The team must come first. You do not get to participate in such a great competition many times in your life. Even if you need to make an effort, you need to help the team as much as you can, maybe not change the way you play, but at least do things to help the team."