Tag Archives: Zidane

THE NEXT ZZ?

NasriZidane

Samir Nasri was regarded as the next Zinedine Zidane when he was a young and upcoming player at Marseille. His career went to new heights after joining Arsenal a few years ago, while he has become an even better player after joining Manchester City. However, he certainly struggled last season under the management of Roberto Mancini, whose hard-line stance did not help him get form. It was even suggested that Nasri would be sold in the summer if Mancini stayed at the club. However, it was the manager who left and Nasri has since become an integral part of the City team under Manuel Pellegrini.

They have been challenging for the title since the start of the campaign and they already have one title in the bag. The Capital One Cup success was largely down to the individual brilliance of Nasri, who scored just moments after Yaya Toure equalised against Sunderland. Nasri has scored only four goals, but he has created six assists in the 26 league appearances he has made for City this season. Despite this good run of form, Nasri has been overlooked for the recent international matches by France manager Didier Deschamps.

The 26-year-old is also pessimistic about his chances of making it into the World Cup 2014 squad.

“I want to wear this shirt but if I do not go to the World Cup it will make it two I have missed. At the moment I am rather pessimistic than optimistic so far. I was not part of the last friendly against the Netherlands and it was the last call before the World Cup group being named and I didn’t get any explanation. But if I don’t go to the World Cup, it will be because of my inadequate performances in the national team rather than my behaviour,” said Nasri.

ZIDANE AS A BOSS

Zidane

French legend Zinedine Zidane recently revealed his ambition to become a manager. The former French international has been appointed as the assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, but he says that the prospect of managing a team has been growing within him over the last few years. Zidane was initially expected to become a director of football at a major club, but he reveals that management is what he’s after right now. This has increased to the respect of the former Real Madrid man to take over the French national team.

Zidane’s last involvement with the national team was in the 2006 World Cup final when he managed to get himself sent off after head-butt on Inter Milan defender Materazzi. The French national team has been going through a transitional phase since then. They have been unable to hit the heights of recent years, which has led to the appointment of Didier Deschamps. He has managed to steady the ship and they are expected to do well at the 2014 World Cup. However, Deschamps has a contract with the national team only till 2016.

He is unlikely to renew it, as he may look to returning to club football. Deschamps says that Zidane could potentially be a future manager for the French national team.

“It’s possible. Why not? He has graduated, he wants to be in this place, so why not. After 2016, I don’t know what I’ll do,” said Deschamps.

France will be taking on Switzerland, Honduras, and Ecuador in the group E of the World Cup. Hence, they are rated as the favourites to get into the knockout stages, which they failed to do in the last World Cup. It was a forgetful affair for the national team, as it was marred by a lot of infighting within the team.