A consultant for L’Equipe TV, former OM forward Marc Libbra discusses Les Bleus' quarter-final against defending champions Spain...
Certain favourites have struggled at times and just scraped through at the Euro...
I really haven't been impressed by the likes of Italy and Spain who have struggled. Without a fantastic Casillas, who saved his side against Croatia, Spain could have been on their way home. Germany are the only team that really stand out with their three wins in the group stage. They were solid against Portugal and extraordinary against the Netherlands when they won it in the first half. Germany are more than ever red-hot favourites. Italy and Spain both gave themselves a scare and Portugal were very lucky to get through after two very average group matches. Germany impressed me the most and in Mario Gomez they have a real forward, an excellent goal scorer, like he showed against Portugal with his only real chance. He may yet be the difference for the Nationalmannschaft.
Everyone thought Spain would be far too strong at this tournament, and while it will still be tough for Les Bleus, they have a chance...
I'd prefer to play Spain who like to play football. Against a Ukraine side that looked to attack, France won 2-0. I'd prefer to play a side that have 65% possession that we can counterattack, than an Italy side who sit back, defend well and grab you and rugby tackle you at every corner.
With our speed up front, with Benzema, Ménez and Ribéry, I think we can cause the Spaniards some problems. Against Italy, it would have been very tough, as it has been in the past.
Against Spain, Les Bleus will have to fight hard and won't be allowed to cheat. Against Sweden, France thought they were already qualified and it didn't matter what happened.
How do you explain that Spain aren't as good as in 2010?
It's not easy to play without a real attacker, with someone like Fabregas and Jesus Navas playing that role. It was a bit strange to see Fernando Torres score a brace and then not start the next game and see an excellent striker like Llorente on the bench. When you look at their midfielders Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi and Alonso, they have problems of the rich! Soldado, who is an amazing forward doesn’t even get a look in. While in midfield and up front they can accelerate the play quickly, at the back, the absence of Puyol has caused Arbeloa, Ramos and Piqué some real problems.
Koscielny will come into the defence with fresh legs...
Koscielny will have energy, but he and Rami don't know each other in terms of football. Koscielny was excellent this season with Arsenal, but sometimes his concentration goes and that scares me. Rami first pass is not always the best but they haven't caused us too many problems for the moment and he's always the first one into the battle. We'll do with what we've got, but don't forget since Laurent Blanc took over two years ago, we've always played with Rami and Mexès and M’Vila ahead of them.
Are you surprised that Mathieu Valbuena hasn't played yet?
Every time he's called upon for the France team, he's delivered, like when he scored against Germany. Take the example at Marseille where every season he starts on the bench and every season he plays his 40 matches in the starting XI and really forces his way into being a main player. It's a shame he hasn't been given his chance with Les Bleus. People compare him with Menez, at PSG, Nasri, at City, or Ben Arfa. What annoys me is that he's now the fourth choice right-winger and then Nasri moves behind the striker against Sweden where Mathieu could also have played. I haven’t given up hope of seeing him against Spain.
Alou Diarra seems to have found his form…
People say that Diarra didn’t have a good season, but every time Marseille won the big games, Alou was always excellent, whether it was against Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and PSG. I'm not surprised to see him picked by Laurent Blanc, even though everyone was up in arms after the England game when he allowed Lescott to score. He's our only 1.90m player and he never backs down. Against England he was one of the few that could have got a goal, with a couple of chances. Agaisnt Spain there will be no Mexès. Without him, we would not be dangerous at all from corners. I'm really happy for Alou Diarra. I always had faith in his football. If Cabaye is playing so well, it's also in part thanks to Alou who does all the dirty work, winning the ball and releasing quickly. And in terms of experience, Alou Diarra has also played in two World Cups already.
