Home - News - article
Ben Arfa: Improved attitude has helped my chances of representing France
Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2012 by Goal.com

Ben Arfa: Improved attitude has helped my chances of representing France

The 25-year-old was cut from the national squad for Euro 2008 and complete left out for World Cup 2010 by former coach Raymond Domenech.

His move to the Tyneside followed a troubled spell at Marseille where he fell out with coach Didier Deschamps, but the Frenchman has highlighted his improvement and hopes it will improve his chances of being selected.

"I am more peaceful now," Ben Arfa told reporters at France's training camp in Clairefontaine.

"I make more efforts for the others. Every failure makes you grow. I have evolved and at 25 I think I'm more mature than when I was 20."

France manager Laurent Blanc must reduce his current squad to 23 by May 29 and Ben Arfa has stated he is ready for whatever decision the coach makes.

"Obviously you wonder what is going to happen but I have no hunch. I just hope I will be in the squad.

"I still remember the shocks of 2008 and 2010. If it has to happen, I will adapt."

France will play England in their opening game of the European Championships on the June 11, with Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine also drawn alongside them in Group D.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia