England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned fans not to be fooled by France’s poor showing in their last major competition – the World Cup – after they were drawn together for Euro 2004.
Today’s ceremony in Lisbon pitched England, reigning champions France, Switzerland and Croatia together in Group B.
Eriksson, who admitted Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira are the men England must be wary of, said France’s dismal performance in the Far East last year when they crashed out in the group stage could not be used as an indicator for next summer.
“The France that you saw in Japan was not the real France and I should think that at Euro 2004 you will see them back at their best,” he said.
“They have a good chance and I think that if you take their squad as a whole they have the best football players of any side in the competition.
“With France they don’t just have one or two good individuals but many many players who play in all the best leagues across Europe.
“Technically, tactically and physically they are in top form, as they showed against Germany recently,” he told the Football Association’s website, www.thefa.com.