Mexes ready to seize second chance

AS Roma’s French defender Philippe Mexes admitted on Tuesday that he was ready to at last replicate his club form on the international stage in Wednesday’s friendly with Norway.

The 28-year-old has been recalled to the French squad after new coach Laurent Blanc refused to select any of the 23 players from the World Cup finals squad who shamed the country in June.

It gives Mexes a golden opportunity to as Blanc put it to him not to miss the train a second time after a traumatic appearance for France in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Austria in September 2008 which apart from one call-up for a friendly against Argentina was the last time he appeared at this level.

But Mexes, who made his name at French side Auxerre before moving to Roma in 2004 for 7million euros, is determined not to allow the pressure to get to him as he readies himself for what should be his 14th cap.

“It is imperative that I don’t put too much pressure on myself,” he said.

“Everyone will be under it in any case. I am not going to play as if a rope is around my neck, I am going into this match calmly.”

Mexes, who has won two Italian Cups and finished runner-up in Serie A four times, said that he could never avoid talk about his match against Austria, where he was at fault for one goal and conceded a penalty for another.

“It will be talked about for a long time but a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then,” he said.

“Since then there have been a lot of matches. The important thing is to be here now and to have an opportunity to re-establish myself.”

Mexes refused to blame unloved former national coach Raymond Domenech for not giving him another chance.

“I don’t think he (Domenech) was to blame,” admitted Mexes.

“He gave me the opportunity to express myself but we didn’t see the Philippe Mexes of Auxerre or in his better moments at Roma.

“I made some mistakes on the pitch and that knocked my confidence. But I have approached this match with another mentality.”

Mexes for his part accepted that he could also well be called on to assume the role of captain for the match given that he is the oldest member of the squad at 28 but said he was ready to do so should Blanc decide on him on the day of the match.

“With the international experience I have, whether good or bad, I could well be captain but there are three to four players who also could be,” said Mexes.

“However, there shouldn’t be just one captain, there should be several leaders on the pitch.

“But I am ready to assume this responsibility, no problem.”