Now you`ll see the real Les Bleus - Malouda
France midfielder Florent Malouda admits Les Bleus are relieved to be in the knockout phase of the World Cup – but insists the team can now take on a new dimension for the last 16 match against Spain.
Malouda, at 26 young by the standards of an ageing France side, has started the Group G matches with South Korea and Togo – a match where France got the 2-0 win they needed to reach the last 16.
Speaking after that match, Malouda said: “I am delighted the team managed to get into the next round and it’s good to get there.
“We feel much better now and we know we can do better still.
“Now we hope to forget the group phase and look forward to a new start.”
Malouda, who plays his club football for French champions Lyon, admitted Spain had made an impressive start to their campaign.
“We have to regroup for the Spain game now,” said Malouda. “We have already spoken about it.
“We will have to be lucid when we are in their half and make sure we take our chances.”
They (Spain) have started the tournament very well and we will have to try to stop them from playing. I hope we manage to do that.”
Suspended pair Zinedine Zidane and Eric Abidal will return for the match with the Spain side which is coached by Luis Aragones who early in his tenure as Spain boss made insulting remarks about France striker Thierry Henry.
Abidal looks certain to replace Mikael Silvestre at left-back and while Zidane seems certain to return, coach Raymond Domenech must decide how to set up his team after Patrick Vieira excelled in the playmaking role against Togo.
Vieira scored the opener and made the second for Thierry Henry in a match France had to win by two clear goals to be sure of progressing to the last 16 and what proved to be a match in Hanover with Spain.
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