Ribery: We Miss Zizou

Bayern Munich star Ribery, who will eventually be tasked with the role of replacing Zidane as the talisman of the French team, admits that the presence of Zidane could have prevented his side’s terrible start to Euro 2008.

"He would take the ball and go and score three goals," Ribery told Reuters as the team prepared for Tuesday's Group C decider against Italy.

"His presence would do everybody a lot of good. We all miss Zizou.

"In difficult situations like the one we're in now you can't help thinking about what a player like him could bring."

Zidane retired from all Football after his infamous head-butt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final defeat by Italy.

Goalkeeper Coupet said Zidane's retirement was one of the reasons why France, thrashed 4-1 by Netherlands on Friday after drawing 0-0 with Romania on Monday, were toiling at these finals.

"We lost a great captain," said Coupet. "It's not easy to replace the best player in the world.

"We're trying to rebuild a group without him. That's part of our problem."

To scramble into the quarter-finals, France need to beat Italy and hope Romania do not overcome the Dutch in Berne on Tuesday.

France, nicknamed the 'Brazilians of Europe' in the 1980s, had to wait more than 10 years to re-establish themselves as a force after their other all-time great Michel Platini retired in 1987.

Zidane then came along and a golden decade started, as displayed by the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs.

Ribery added that France must show no fear against the world champions in Zurich if they are to stand any chance of progression.

"We must not be afraid," he stated. "We're not dead yet."

That's [beep!]. The presence of Zidane didn't stop France having a poor start in the world cup in 06, or an absolutely catastrophic start in the 2002 world cup.

It's a pathetic excuse.

Zizou did not play for the first two games in 2002, still we failed badly.

I suppose that can be the problem with having a player such as the caliber of Zidane in the team for so many years, continuing on without him. I do think that the French are lacking a central figure to really take control of that attack in the manner that Zidane would of, but it is now up to players such as Ribery to attempt to make that step up and prove that they can still function highly as a unit without him.

We have a culture of having a playmaker but there is only one per generation like zidane or platini. We struggled for years after Platini left.

Zizou was just too good. But a team like France cannot depend on one only player, even if he's totally outstanding.

Indeed. I also think Ribery is perhaps to much of a wide player to take a Zidane-esque mantle in the France Midfield.

We miss Zizou...

No sh!t Sherlock. Any team would miss one of the greatest players ever to live.

Also, the lack of Zidane is also accentuated by the lack of creative players employed in the centre of the park! Playing Toulalan in there alongside Makélélé isn't going to help recreate the creative class Zizou once brought. It's so negative.

Zidane right now is in better shape than players like Thuram. That's for sure. If you watch him playing in those "No drugs" games then you'll realize he still keeps the class. Zizou shouldn't have retired yet!

I think they do miss having the presence of Zidane. An iconic and tailsmanic figure for them. Is a great lose. One they will have to recover from. But i believe they have players', who posses great footballing ability, who provide the French team with other attributes. Which isn't being utilised by their current Manager.

I believe France's problem is something alot greater than the lose of Zidane.

They miss Zidane because he is the best player since Maradonna

Totally agree