The French national team could not sink any lower after their debacle at last summer's World Cup finals, yet the player many consider to be the nation's greatest of all-time believes new coach Laurent Blanc has already started the long road back towards credibility.
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Zinedine Zidane and Blanc were former team-mates for France.
Ahead of the prestigious international against England at Wembley on Wednesday, Nick Bidwell caught up with the great Zinedine Zidane to ask the questions that matter on the future of
Les Bleus.
Is Laurent Blanc the right man to revive France's flagging fortunes?
I always was convinced Laurent Blanc was the right man to take charge of our national team. After the disastrous events in South Africa, we had to wipe the slate completely clean and I can think of no one better to make a success of the rebuilding process. He's a proper coach, insists on playing attacking football and is a natural leader.
What qualities do you most admire in Blanc?
He has this authority that people respect and players respond in the right way to him. In my old French side, 'Lolo' (Blanc's nickname) and Didier Deschamps effectively were the guys who set the tone, who made sure everyone was on the same page and stayed focused. Blanc is so calm and cares deeply about the French and he will not put up with half-measures and those who aren't as hungry as him.
How difficult will it be for France to bounce back after the World Cup humiliation in South Africa?
It was always going to be tough, but the first task was to get the side winning again and 'Lolo' has done that. I think he's doing a great job in bringing the squad closer together, encouraging the guys to be more responsible and to see the big picture. He has got the balance just right. Laurent is close to the players, but at the same time, there's no doubting who's the boss. He's brought back the ambition and the enthusiasm and has a talent for bringing people together. The coach is not divisive, unlike his predecessor.
You were never a big fan of former France coach Raymond Domenech, is that fair to say?
Let's say he and I weren't on the same wavelength. It's one thing to pick 11 players, but it's another entirely to forge them into a cohesive unit, one with a solid pattern of play and philosophy. Under Domenech, I saw a French team that was just a collection of individuals. Too many on the pitch were trying to do it all by themselves when in reality you can only get results with a strong collective base.
What was your reaction when the French players went on strike during the World Cup finals?
As an ex-player, I normally support professionals 100%, but not in this instance. They had their grievances, but it should never have got to the stage of boycotting training. They went a step too far. You have to show total respect to the shirt, the French supporters and the nation. There's no point pretending that the image of our game did not take a real beating.
How big a role do the supporters have in the revival of the French national team?It was clear for some time that the national team and its coach were very unpopular. When your own fans whistle and jeer, then you have a big problem. The pressure grew, the players felt more and more isolated and, in the end, they became too fearful and inhibited. Now the fans are right behind the team again and that makes a great deal of difference, I assure you.
What are your thoughts on the new faces in the France team that will take on England at Wembley?I'm delighted to see how well new players such as Loic Remy, Dimitri Payet, Adil Rami and Yann M'Vila have performed. We needed some new blood and Blanc is handling them very intelligently. He's showing great faith in them and that is important for a young player. They know they will get a good run of games and that they will be given a more than fair chance to earn a spot in the side.
The likes of Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema and Philippe Mexes are also back in the mix for Les Bleus. This has to be a positive development doesn't it?The door can never be closed for good to any player. These are players of ability and class and they look eager to make the most of their second chance.
So will France qualify for Euro 2012 and make an impression in the tournament?After starting out with a home defeat to Belarus, we're back on track and I see no reason why we shouldn't finish up top of our group. On the whole, French supporters have great hopes for Laurent Blanc and his side, but we have to be patient and not expect us to return to the top of the tree tomorrow. We aren't the only country in a big rebuilding phase. Italy, England, Portugal and Brazil are in the same boat after not coming up to scratch at the World Cup.
Finally, I have to ask you about your old club Real Madrid. How do you think they will get on under Jose Mourinho's guidance this season?
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Jose Mourinho watches his compatriot in action
I'm their No. 1 supporter and have a good feeling about what Mourinho is building there. When you have a winner, motivator and organiser like him in charge, you are well down the road to achieving your goals. Come next spring, I'm sure we'll be in contention for prizes both in Spain and in Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken your place as the king of the Bernabeu. What are your thoughts on his form this season?It's just a pleasure to see him playing with a smile on his face again. His World Cup did not go as he would have wanted, but you can't keep someone of his genius down for long. As well as his brilliance as a creator, he's such a determined character and I know for a fact that he's one of the hardest workers on the training ground.
