Petit doubts French Euro chances

Former France international Emmanuel Petit feels the current national side have little chance of glory in Euro 2012.

Petit was part of the French squad which triumphed at Euro 2000, as well as World Cup 1998, but believes the current crop of players have not reached their potential and will not be capable of victory next year in Poland and Ukraine.

“I’m not going to fall into the popular trap of patriotism. I think that, right now, Laurent Blanc’s France team has neither the mental capacity or football ability to be considered among the favourites,” the 41-year-old told Fifa.com.

“France have a number of top-quality players, but those players haven’t managed to express the full range of their talent in the national team.”

“Still, it’s all the better we’re able to shake off the tag of group favourites, as we showed in friendly wins against England and Brazil that we’re better in the role of outsiders.”

Meanwhile, the former Arsenal and Barcelona man has praised the job his former international team-mate Laurent Blanc is doing in charge of Les Bleus.

“He’s trying to do the best he can, and I think he’s doing it well,” Petit said.

“In terms of their play, I think we’re right to expect much better, but he would be the first to say that.”

“After the events in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the awful image left by the France team, it was suicidal to take the reins of that side.”

“Taking that into account, I think he’s doing a more than competent job in charge of the France team.”

Blanc’s men will open the tournament against England on June 11, with Ukraine and Sweden their other opponents in Group D.