Munich (AP) – Franck Ribéry is torn between his home country France and his long-term adopted home Germany on Tuesday before the European Championship game. “My heart will be divided during the game, half-half,” said the former Bayern Munich professional of “Bild am Sonntag”: “I am French by birth, but a large part of my heart belongs to Germany. If the DFB team wins , I’m happy for Germany and a little sad for France. Conversely, I feel the same. “
In the end, he even has “more friends in the German team than in France,” said the 38-year-old, who played in Munich from 2007 to 2019: “If Germany were to lose, I would be sad for players like Neuer, Müller, Goretzka, Kimmich or Süle. On the French side, I have a good friend in Benzema, as well as my boys from Bayern days: Tolisso, Coman, Pavard, I also like Hernandez, although we didn’t play together. “
In the end, however, both of them will advance in the difficult Group F, believes Ribéry. He believes “both of them can win the title, and of course it is quite possible that they will see each other again in the European Championship final”. Also in the direct duel on Tuesday in Munich “the German team naturally have a chance”.
This is not least due to the return of Bayern star Thomas Müller. “He is the leader of German football, he embodies the perfect German for me,” said Ribéry. And that’s why France also has respect for him. “The whole world of football has respect for Thomas,” said Ribéry: “And of course the French too. Anyone who has no respect for Thomas Müller has no idea about football.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210613-99-971292 / 2
– .
