No easy group, say Ribery

Franck Ribery believes France have a difficult draw for the Euro 2012 group stage, but admitsit could have been a lot worse.

Laurent Blanc’s side must tackle England, Sweden and tournament co-hosts Ukraine in what promises to be a very exciting Group D.

The Bayern Munich attacker believes France have much work to do, but is grateful that his country avoided the so-called ‘Group of Death’, which comprises Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

“I remember in 2010 (at the World Cup), we had talked (about) a good draw (South Africa, Uruguay, Mexico), and we know what happened,” Ribery told L’Equipe.

“I do not believe that this group is easy; it’s more complicated than two years ago. But I am relieved that we did not get the ‘Group of Death’.”

France failed to make it out of their group at last year’s World Cup and made headlines for all the wrong reasons, following a very public falling out between a number of senior players and former coach Raymond Domenech.