Blanc: Benzema, Giroud pairing viable

France coach Laurent Blanc said Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud can play in the same XI, but they may not do so in their Euro 2012 opener.

Both players are coming off the back of hugely successful club campaigns, with Benzema having played an integral role in Real Madrid’s Liga triumph and Giroud having fired Montpellier to Ligue 1 glory.

Blanc has already intimated that Benzema will lead the Les Bleus attack at the Euros but has now admitted that he is toying with the idea of a front two for their opening clash with England on June 11.

“Benzema and Giroud can play together,” the former Bordeaux coach told reporters on Wednesday.

“They are two interesting players but they are complementary – I’m convinced of that.

“But there are choices to make, tactically in particular. It is necessary to think about the balance of the team.”

Blanc also admitted that he had been hoping to call upon the services of Yoann Gourcuff in Poland and Ukraine, but felt that he had no option but to drop the Lyon playmaker because of his fitness problems this season.

“Gourcuff had a big role to play. But he was injured,” he said.

When asked about how his side will line out for the meeting with old rivals England in Donetsk, Blanc replied: “I don’t know. But we will play to win.”

France play their final warm-up game on Thursday, against Serbia, and Blanc is expecting another tough test in light of their hard-earned victory over Iceland at the weekend.

“On paper, Serbia is better armed than Iceland. But it will be a different match,” he said.

“Whatever the opposition, we want to do what we set out to do. And without announcing the team, I say to you that there will be many changes.”

France and England and joined in Group D by tournament co-hosts Ukraine and Sweden.