Anelka defends Nasri outburst

Nicolas Anelka has defended Samir Nasri’s expletive-laden rant at reporters after France were beaten by Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

Nasri had taken a hostile stance toward the French media during the tournament, directing a ‘shushing’ gesture at them following his goal against England.

And after Les Blues’ exit to the eventual winners Spain, the Manchester City playmaker turned the air blue by aiming an angry tirade at the waiting press.

However, Shanghai Shenhua striker Anelka has defended his compatriot, insisting he should be allowed to air his thoughts in public just like anyone else.

“In France, everybody has the right to speak publicly,” he told French broadcaster TF1.

“The media can do it, normal people can do it, and so can Nasri.

“So when the media try to provoke a player, they really want the player to say something in response. Nasri gave them something they really wanted.

“Anyway, I think what he did was right.”

Nasri was handed a three-match ban by the French Football Federation following a disciplinary hearing into the incident.

Anelka saw his international career effectively ended in 2010 after the FFF handed him an 18-match ban for his role in the French squad’s revolt against Raymond Domenech during the World Cup in South Africa.

Meanwhile, French team-mate Laurent Koscielny has offered coach Didier Deschamps an alternative approach to beating Spain when the two European heavyweights face off in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old has cited the success of a high line of defence employed by Arsenal in an encounter with Barcelona, and stated it could present the ideal solution in preventing a free-scoring Spain from running amok at Vicente Calderon.

“There are two solutions, to play low or press higher up,” the Gunners defender told reporters.

“We run a lot, and have the physical condition required (for the latter).

“We used this at Arsenal against Barcelona, and succeeded. This could be a good solution for us.”

France head into the World Cup qualifying clash reeling from a 1-0 international friendly defeat by Japan on Friday.

Vincente Del Bosque’s men, meanwhile, will be high on confidence after surging to a 4-0 victory over Belarus in their World Cup qualifier.