11 Aug 2010

France football coach keeping cards close to his chest

6:22 am on 11 August 2010

The new France football coach Laurent Blanc kept his plans a mystery on the eve of his first game in charge but says he wants Les Bleus to play good football.

Blanc landed in Oslo with a largely experimental squad ahead of Thursday's friendly against Norway and refused to drop any hints about his starting line-up or who he will name as captain for France's first outing since their shambolic World Cup exit.

None of the players who boycotted a training session in South Africa after Nicolas Anelka was sent home for insulting then coach Raymond Domenech were selected.

The team were knocked out of the finals after the group stage.