France prepares for Euro 2016 kick off

Euro 2016 kicks off on Friday night at the Stade de France, with hosts France taking on Romania. While star DJ David Guetta’s opening concert Thursday night at the Eiffel Tower ‘fan zone’ went off without a hitch, security and on-going strikes remain the government’s largest concerns. 

France coach Didier Deschamps was captain of the France side that beat Italy to win Euro 2000. Reuters/Christian Hartmann

Over the next few weeks, 24 teams will play in 10 different cities. The top two teams from the six groups as well as the four best third-placed sides will advance to the second phase last 16 knockout stage.

While France (Group A) is favored to win on its home turf, the national team has had its fair share of problems leading up to the tournament. Real Madrid star striker Karim Benzema was not selected due to his role in an alleged blackmail plot involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena; defender Mamadou Sakho failed a doping test; injuries have done for Kurt Zouma and Raphaël Varane.

Nevertheless coach Didier Deschamps remains upbeat. The Frenchman, 47, who skippered the side to its 1998 World Cup triumph and the 2000 European championship, added: "I picked these players. I know their qualities, there are players with different characteristics, we've been able to score a lot of goals and create a lot of problems for the opponents."

World champions Germany (Group C) are another favorite, as are defending champions Spain, who are in Group D with Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia.

England and Wales, both in Group B, face off on 16 June in Lens in northern France. Roy Hodgson’s England looked promising during their qualifying group, winning all 10 games.

Unprecedented security

After suffering two deadly terrorist attacks in Paris in January and November 2015, the French government has upped the ante in terms of security: 42,000 police, 30,000 soldiers, 13,000 security officers, 2,500 firemen, and 300 bomb-disposal experts will be deployed throughout the country. President François Hollande warned on Sunday, however, that the possibility of a terrorist attack taking place is still high.

While the risk hasn’t deterred the 2.5 million fans expected in France over the next month, Germany player Jonas Hector admits he is worried. The defender, who was playing in the Stade de France on 13 November when a string of attacks left 130 people dead, announced on Wednesday that his family will not attend Germany’s opening match against Ukraine on Sunday in Lille in northern France.

Uncollected trash, train delays, cancelled flights

As if the government didn’t have enough on its plate in terms of security, the country has been disrupted by national strikes in nearly every industry over the last month.

Overflowing rubbish bins and piles of garbage bags litter the sidewalks in several Parisian neighborhoods, as garbage collectors have been on strike for the last two days. Air France pilots announced that 20% of flights will be cancelled this weekend. And train conductors in the capital have vowed to delay rail services to the Stade de France in St Denis, just outside Paris.

Despite this less than ideal backdrop, the Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, told French TV that all of the rubbish will be collected. As for striking rail workers, Transport Minister Alain Vidalies warned: "If we have to issue orders tomorrow (for trains to be driven), we will do so." President Hollande supported the minister, saying the government will take "all necessary measures" to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.