Thursday 9 June 2016 17:50, UK
France defender Bacary Sagna thinks England are a team to be feared at Euro 2016.
The right-back, who made his debut for France in 2007 in a friendly match against Slovakia, rates England's young side highly and believes they pose a real threat to France manager Didier Deschamps' hopes of claiming a home victory.
The host nation will open the tournament with a Group A game against Romania at the Stade de France on Friday.
"I think they [England] are a serious rival for us," Sagna told Sky Sports News HQ. "It's an extremely young team, a bit like ours actually."
The 33-year-old joined Manchester City from Arsenal in 2014 on a four-year contact and has plenty of experience playing with and against members of the England squad in the Premier League.
"Their team is very young," he said. "They have a certain force on the offensive. I play with them. I watch them during the year and for me it's the most serious English team in a long time."
France remain the last host country to lift the trophy - in 1984 - and warmed up for the tournament by nicking a late victory against Cameroon before hammering Scotland 3-0.
England take on Russia at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday before facing Wales on June 16 in Lens and then Slovakia four days later in Saint-Etienne.
