The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Lloris calls for more Australians in EPL

26th May, 2015
0

The English Premier League should be the ultimate goal for rising Australian football stars, says Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

As Spurs prepare to touch down in Australia for their match with Sydney FC, Lloris praised past and present Socceroos’ involvement in England’s top flight.

And the 28-year-old Frenchman, who skippers both Tottenham and France, believes players starting their careers should set their sights on the EPL as a platform to reach their peak.

“It’s not easy for Australian players to come to Europe as they come from so far away,” Lloris told AAP.

“But I think it should be a target for young Australian players, and I think it’s the best league for them because they can speak the language and the football culture is maybe the same.

“There’s been some great Australian players in the Premier League, I know the likes of Mark Schwarzer and Mark Bosnich.”

Lloris’ fellow gloveman Schwarzer (109 caps) has spent most of his career in the Premier League playing for Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and most recently Leicester City, while retired keeper Bosnich (17 caps) enjoyed his formative years at Aston Villa before stints at Manchester United and Chelsea.

Another player seemingly on the verge of a berth is Australia’s Asian Cup hero Massimo Luongo.

Advertisement

Currently playing for League One side Swindon Town, the 22-year-old midfielder has been linked to Villa on a multi-million dollar deal.

Lloris also cited current Socceroos and Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak (58 caps), who recently won the Eagles’ goal of the season award.

“I don’t know him as a man but he is doing very well for Crystal Palace and their success is thanks to players like him,” he said.

“He is part of the spine of their team and is a big player for them.”

Lloris, who joined Tottenham from Lyon in 2012, is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and reportedly on the radar of Manchester United should David de Gea depart for Real Madrid.

He’ll soon land Sydney along with a full-strength Spurs squad featuring Mousa Dembele, Danny Rose and star striker Harry Kane, who scored 21 EPL goals this season.

The eight-time FA Cup winners, who’ve just finished the 2014-15 season in fifth place, will play Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on Saturday in the club’s first trip to Australia in three decades.

Advertisement

Lloris said he didn’t know much about his opponents or the A-League in general – except for one very famous face.

“I know a bit about Sydney FC because Alessandro Del Piero played there,” he said.

“It’ll be nice to experience and learn about a different football culture, and I know it is a really growing sport.”

Attacking midfielder Erik Lamela said he was looking forward to meeting some Spurs fans from Down Under.

“We hear from them on social media a lot so it will be good to connect with them in person,” the 23-year-old Argentine said.

close