In an interview with Le Figaro, Samuel Umtiti and Blaise Matuidi, both members of the French national team bracing for Sunday’s final World Cup showdown in Moscow, said that they are very happy with the atmosphere in the French national team and would like to stay in Russia for a few more months.
“We have a helluva good time here and there are always things we can do,” said French defender Umtiti.
Halfback Matuidi is equally impressed with the time he has spent in Russia and has called the 2018 World Cup the best in his entire career.
“I’ve taken part in four international tournaments but nothing compares with what we have here. We are a young and agile team and the atmosphere here is absolutely amazing. We feel so good here that I could stay here for many more months,” Matyuidi admitted.
Although they have spent a month and a half "under the hood and away from their loved ones," they speak of their emotions "with a glint in their eyes," Le Figaro writes.
According to the newspaper, the 31-year-old Blaise Matuidi, who reflects on the completion of his career in the national team, is so impressed with the situation in the team that he may well want to "extend the pleasure."
READ MORE: FIFA Head Infantino: 2018 World Cup in Russia 'Best Ever'
France and Croatia will face off in the much-anticipated final game of the 2018 World Cup at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on Sunday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier praised the 2018 World Cup as the best in history and thanked Russians for their hospitality, and the organizing committee and the government for the ideal organization of the competition.