Thuram: France must stay humble to go all the way

VETERAN defender Lilian Thuram has urged France to maintain the new-found humility he says is the key to their resurgence and their hopes of booking a ticket to the World Cup final.

Thuram, 34, had to be lured back from international retirement — very much against his will — in 2005 after becoming disillusioned at what he considered the selfish attitude that had started to infect Les Bleus.

Now, he admits he is relishing his World Cup return and is confident the rekindled team spirit could see France return to the final of the competition they won on home soil in 1998 by beating Portugal in tomorrow’s semi-final in Munich.