Intro:

Laurent Blanc has defended France's performance in the 1-1 draw with England, criticising Roy Hodgson's tactics for the game.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (French), Laurent Blanc, France coach:

"Some say that the French team had difficulties to find room to play, including on the wings, but the team in front of us refused to play. And we have seen that even during a Champions League final, when a team refuses to play, it prevents the other team from playing. So there was no surprise yesterday, unless we had had individual prowess, which did not happen neither with Karim nor with any other player."

SOUNDBITE (French), Laurent Blanc, France coach:

"Regarding Samir Nasri, I have not had a chance to see him after the match because he did an anti-doping test yesterday and came back very late, so I will have a conversation with him. Now you cannot control all of your players' reactions. Sometimes they have unexpected reactions. Now if there are individuals issues, or issues between someone and a publication, you guys are big boys, try and talk together to solve those issues if they can be solved."

SOUNDBITE (French), Laurent Blanc, France coach:

"Sometimes during tournaments, some matches are closed, which did happen in the match against England. French supporters were hoping for something else, I hope they will be satisfied with our second match. A tournament consists in 3 matches in the first place and then other matches if possible. Some French supporters are disappointed, I can understand that. I read that the French team was not ambitious enough, if people think that France was not ambitious enough, then what should we say of England's performance?"