Euro 2012: Blanc slams Nasri for foul-mouthed rant
France coach insists midfielder is not learning.
DONETSK:
Samir Nasri’s foul-mouthed rant at a reporter following France’s lacklustre 2-0 defeat by Spain was ‘very, very bad’ for his image, said coach Laurent Blanc.
“It is very regrettable but it’s a problem between Samir and the press,” the French tactician Blanc. “It is very, very bad for his image but when this is done when he’s with France it’s also bad for the team’s image. From what I gathered, he lacked respect towards the journalist who at some point also lacked respect towards him.”
Midfielder Nasri had already been involved in a row with media when he muttered ‘shut up’ after scoring the equaliser in France’s 1-1 draw against England in their opening game.
“I had told him what I thought about this [after the first incident] but apparently he did not get the message,” added Blanc.
‘Schweinsteiger will
be fit’
Germany captain Philipp Lahm has backed Bastian Schweinsteiger to win his fitness battle and play in Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final, despite missing the last three training sessions.
“We need fit players, we can’t have anyone who is missing three or four per cent,” said Lahm. “Having said that, I don’t worry much about Schweinsteiger, he knows his body well and I’m sure he’ll be on the pitch on Thursday evening.”
Meanwhile, Schweinsteiger admitted he was below par in his last outing
“There were a few bad passes from me, which never normally happens,” said the 27-year-old. “This shouldn’t happen to a player like me.”
Schweinsteiger has said he would have no problem starting on the bench if coach Joachim Loew decides not to start him.
“If the coach decides so, I would have no problem with that,” said the midfielder. “We rotated a few people against Greece and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.”
Published in The Express Tribune, 25th, 2012.
Samir Nasri’s foul-mouthed rant at a reporter following France’s lacklustre 2-0 defeat by Spain was ‘very, very bad’ for his image, said coach Laurent Blanc.
“It is very regrettable but it’s a problem between Samir and the press,” the French tactician Blanc. “It is very, very bad for his image but when this is done when he’s with France it’s also bad for the team’s image. From what I gathered, he lacked respect towards the journalist who at some point also lacked respect towards him.”
Midfielder Nasri had already been involved in a row with media when he muttered ‘shut up’ after scoring the equaliser in France’s 1-1 draw against England in their opening game.
“I had told him what I thought about this [after the first incident] but apparently he did not get the message,” added Blanc.
‘Schweinsteiger will
be fit’
Germany captain Philipp Lahm has backed Bastian Schweinsteiger to win his fitness battle and play in Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final, despite missing the last three training sessions.
“We need fit players, we can’t have anyone who is missing three or four per cent,” said Lahm. “Having said that, I don’t worry much about Schweinsteiger, he knows his body well and I’m sure he’ll be on the pitch on Thursday evening.”
Meanwhile, Schweinsteiger admitted he was below par in his last outing
“There were a few bad passes from me, which never normally happens,” said the 27-year-old. “This shouldn’t happen to a player like me.”
Schweinsteiger has said he would have no problem starting on the bench if coach Joachim Loew decides not to start him.
“If the coach decides so, I would have no problem with that,” said the midfielder. “We rotated a few people against Greece and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.”
Published in The Express Tribune, 25th, 2012.