Anelka: France can benefit from poor form

(GSM) – France striker Nicolas Anelka believes their poor form doesn’t have to be a handicap.

Les Bleus struggled to qualify for the World Cup finals after controversially beating Ireland in a play-off game to get to South Africa.

Recent results against Tunisia (1-1) and China (1-0 defeat) haven’t added to their confidence ahead of the tournament that starts next week.

However, Chelsea forward Anelka believes that their poor could work as an advantage leading into the competition.

“I think we have a good squad but we didn’t play very well in the qualification, that’s why people maybe don’t think we will go far, but in football you never know. Anything can happen,” Anelka told the Official Chelsea Website.

“If we win our first two games and confidence comes then we can win everything. It is better without the pressure, every time France had big pressure we didn’t play well,

“This maybe better if nobody expects us to reach the final, so we will see.”

Anelka’s international and Chelsea team-mate Florent Malouda has called on the French players to give everything.

“I am more of a left midfielder with Chelsea but that does not stop me going to the right. When that happens, a team-mate must take my place on the left side,” he said.

“You have to create links between players, be interested in others. Not think “I’m an attacker so I attack and I’m not interested in what the others do”. We are not there to say “I want to play on the right or in the middle”.

“We are going to be ridiculous if, like at Euro 2008, each player stays in his comfort zone aiming for good marks from the media to the detriment of the team.”

“The manager does not necessarily have all the answers. That is what experienced players are in the squad for.”

France’s will start their World Cup campaign on June 11 when they face Uruguay.