THE FRANCE head coach, Laurent Blanc, has rejected suggestions his side should be considered serious contenders to win the European Championship and instead preached caution over the threat posed by England.
Les Bleus are unbeaten in 21 matches, and steadily restoring pride after the humiliation of the players’ rebellion against the former coach Raymond Domenech at the World Cup in South Africa.
Fabio Capello’s England were one of the sides beaten during that lengthy sequence – at Wembley 19 months ago – but Blanc insisted his team remain in transition with the immediate ambition merely to emerge from the section into the knockout phase.
“The French team don’t have the same ambitions as Spain or Germany at the start of these European Championships,” said Blanc, a World Cup winner with France in 1998.
“In terms of results over the last few years, France have not allowed us to retain our previous standing in European or world football. People say I’m always bringing that up, but I don’t do it because I like to; it’s the reality. They say we’re favourites in the group, but how can we be?
“We were in the fourth pot of seeds for the draw, after all, and that means something.”
Blanc has been boosted by the progress made by the likes of Yann M’vila and Blaise Matuidi in their recoveries from ankle and hamstring injuries respectively, but neither is likely to start tonight.
Instead, Alou Diarra – fit after a knee complaint – should anchor the midfield alongside Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabaye with the French determined to play a brand of expansive football against stubborn opposition.
Yet their approach will reflect a wariness of England’s potency on the counter-attack. “They’ll drop back, have a bank of four with some quick players in there, and try and hit us on the break,” said Blanc. “We need to be careful with that and make sure we’re not caught off guard.”
Yohan Cabaye has pinpointed England skipper Steven Gerrard as the main danger to his side’s hopes. Cabaye is aware of the qualities of Liverpool captain Gerrard through viewing him via his successful campaign with Newcastle last season.
He knows Blanc’s side will have a better chance of triumphing if they can stop Gerrard making an impact.
Cabaye said: “Who do we fear most? Steven Gerrard is a very important player, very powerful and an inspirational player, a leader. He is the soul of this team, the captain, and will be like a king in this game.
“He can be very aggressive going forward but defensively he is also important. It is important to try and nullify him.
“But England have some good young players and I’ve also been impressed by Danny Welbeck.”
Cabaye has also urged France to take advantage of the absence of key striker Wayne Rooney through suspension.
Rooney will also be absent from England’s second match against Sweden after his red card in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
Cabaye said: “Rooney is a player of great quality and will be a great miss for them. It is significant for us as well as for England that he will not be there on Monday.”
Cabaye is refusing to make any rash predictions about his side’s chances but he concedes there is a united feeling surrounding the squad after the unrest at the 2010 World Cup.
He said: “There is a good feeling amongst the squad to play for each other and for the whole country. We are ready for the battle. It was difficult to move on after the World Cup but there is a very good spirit here.
“But the English team is very strong and we can’t tell for sure what will be the outcome of this match.
“Some people say we are favourites but the English team, even with their injuries recently, is very strong and Ukraine will be as well at home.
“But we will try to win with our style of play. Personally I am ready for the battle and a good result on Monday will help to build confidence.”
Guardian Service
