Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Andre-Pierre Gignac: Tigres move boosted France hopes for Euro 2016

Tigres striker Andre-Pierre Gignac maintains that he still has plenty of work to do if he is to convince France coach Didier Deschamps to include him in his final squad for Euro 2016.

There were fears that Gignac, 30, risked putting a premature end to his international career when he left Marseille for the Liga MX last summer.

But the former Lorient and Toulouse forward earned a recall in November due to Karim Benzema's legal difficulties and the early-season struggles of Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

Gignac came off the bench to score in France's 2-0 win over Germany that month. He further boosted his chances of being part of the host country's Euro 2016 campaign by netting again in the 4-2 victory against Russia on Tuesday.

Gignac's move to Monterrey has been a success as his goals fired Tigres to Liga MX Apertura glory and the 2015 Copa Libertadores final.

Speaking on Tuesday, Gignac admitted that his hopes of featuring at Euro 2016 had not been good when he first decided to leave Marseille.

"I would have said I had maybe a five percent chance," he told reporters following the Russia game at the Stade de France in Paris.

"I was recalled for the last two meetings and I managed to score two goals. I had the chance to show myself but it's not a finality.

"I'm keen to continue to be decisive with my club. If I'm not decisive with Tigres, it's going to be complicated.

"I have three months to continue to convince."

After making the most of his start against Russia, Gignac said the journey back to Monterrey from the French team's headquarters outside Paris would not seem as long this time.

"Every time I come, it's not to look at the flowers in Clairefontaine," he declared.

"I have a 10-hour flight again to go back but I'll do so with a smile on my face."

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