Barthez keen to show off adopted city of Toulouse

Appointed earlier this year as a UEFA EURO 2016 ambassador for Toulouse, former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez told UEFA.com of his "pride" at having been picked to represent the city.

Don't miss out on EURO tickets

UEFA.com: What will be your role as ambassador and what does it mean to you?

Fabien Barthez: This means an awful lot. I was born in the [department of] Ariege [south of Toulouse] but I live in Toulouse – I am an adopted Toulousain. To have been chosen in a poll that was held over several months in [newspaper] La Dépêche du Midi is a great honour, a source of pride.

UEFA.com: What do you think an event of this kind can bring to the city and the region?

Barthez: In terms of importance, you've got the World Cup and then the European Championship. It's therefore an enormous opportunity to welcome an event like this to the city of Toulouse, a sporting city with more than 500 clubs. We are lucky enough to be able to show off the city to tourists and to show them how beautiful it is, that Toulouse is a very pleasant place to live.

Toulouse city guide

UEFA.com: What advice would you give a fan coming to Toulouse? What are the things you absolutely must see and what sort of atmosphere can fans expect?

Barthez: We are in the south-west, in case you were lost! Let's say there is a hint of the Latin, and that we're often outside, especially around this time. Toulouse is a student city, which is why if a match is on a Wednesday, I would advise supporters to be here from the Sunday to take advantage of the city, its monuments and all it has to offer. You will feel at home here – it's an easy place to live and very welcoming.

UEFA.com: You won UEFA EURO 2000; what chance do you think the current French team have of winning in 2016?

Barthez: You know, at the top level, it's difficult to put a percentage on it because everything hinges on a detail – even a centimetre. We lost the World Cup by a few centimetres in 2006. However, we can see that France and the players in the team are reaching maturity. They have been gathering experience for six years and we are seeing good results today. That's why I believe in them strongly – they've got an unbelievable experience to look forward to.

UEFA.com: To what extent do you think playing a UEFA European Championship at home could be decisive? Is it an important factor?

Barthez: I think it's fantastic, although others will tell you there's a lot of pressure. There is less pressure from the media and others when you're far from home, but I see things differently – I see this as a chance. I was lucky enough to experience this in a World Cup, and even for EURO 2000 [in Belgium and the Netherlands] we weren't far from home. To play in a tournament like that is fantastic, but at home it's something amazing.