Alou Diarra happy with France's form
France captain Alou Diarra is pleased with France's form after he helped the national team to their third win in a row against Luxembourg in a UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying match on Tuesday, October 12.
Laurent Blanc’s men won 2-0 through goals by Karim Benzema and Yoann Gourcuff, leaving them at the top of Group D, a point ahead of Belarus who won when the sides met in the opening qualifying match.
Speaking about Tuesday’s victory, Diarra, who has been captain for three of the five matches Blanc has been in charge, told reporters, "It was not that easy. They kept tight lines and put in a big effort. They had to play physically. But when their levels
dropped, we found more opportunities. This is our third straight win. It's good for morale and for our position in the group. We can deal more confidently with the next matches. The group is on track. It is through winning that we progress."
Blanc has yet to name a permanent captain to follow Patrice Evra, who has been out of the squad due to suspension for his part in a player revolt at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Diarra has admitted that he is enjoying the responsibility.
"It gives me responsibility in the France team and that's something that doesn't scare me. I am one of the most experienced players. That tells me the armband is a mark of confidence and it makes me happy. I try to give everything in this role to support
the staff and my teammates."
Blanc added that, although France was not allowed to display their attacking ability and had to win ugly against the defensive-minded Luxembourg, coming away from the match with three points was the main concern.
"We have six points in two games. After the first game, we were a little pessimistic, and we see that after three wins, we top the group."
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