Zidane lauds Blanc´s new France regime

Zinedine Zidane on Saturday declared that his former France team-mate Laurent Blanc was the right man to lead the reconstruction of the French national side.

Blanc has overseen three consecutive 2-0 wins in France’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, after a shock 1-0 loss at home to Belarus, and Zidane believes he is fully respected by the current generation of French stars.

“There’s a certainty, there’s a change,” said Zidane, who was speaking at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome ahead of their Ligue 1 game with Nancy.

“I think it’s due to his experience and his achievements. He is listened to, quite simply.

“There have been difficult moments, but don’t forget that there is quality in this team, with young and talented players, and maybe all that was needed was a new dynamic and some discipline.

“Blanc is the man for the situation and he’s proving it.”

France are seeking to rebuild after a disastrous World Cup, where they went out in the group phase amid a player strike in protest at the exclusion of striker Nicolas Anelka for clashing with Blanc’s predecessor Raymond Domenech.