Zidane backs Blanc in qualifiers
Football legend Zinedine Zidane has backed new manager Laurent Blanc to restore the French national team to greatness.
France were knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa in the group stages after failing to win a single game with former manager Raymond Domenech.
After the debacle, Blanc, himself a former French international, was appointed as manager to secure qualification to the 2012 European championships.
Spoke to the French squad
Speaking at France's training camp in Clairefontaine on Wednesday evening, Zidane said he was confident Blanc would deliver the results expected of him as manager of the national team.
"Laurent is the right man for the job because of his experience and the player he was," he said, according to the AP. "Because the team is starting from scratch, they can do some extraordinary things together."
Zidane, who won the European and World Cup titles with France before being sent off in the 2006 final against Italy for head-butting Marco Materazzi, had been invited by Blanc to deliver an inspirational speech to the new squad.
"I wished them good luck for what's fast approaching," Zidane said of the contents of his speech. "They're a new generation and they have important things ahead of them. The France team is the ultimate level you can reach. I explained to them that the most important thing is to start winning again. Because a team is judged solely on its results."
France face Belarus on Friday
Since retiring from international football after the 2006 final, Zidane has served as adviser to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
France begin their qualifying campaign against Belarus on Friday. Blanc has signalled his intent to build a new team by calling up Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Stade Rennes youngster Yann M'Vila.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Albania and Luxembourg are the other teams in France's qualifying group.
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