Lebouef slams ‘boring’ England and France and hopes for a Spain v Netherlands final at Euro 2024

Former France defender Frank Lebouef says watching Les Bleus and England astatine Euro 2024 has been “boring” and hopes some countries suffer successful nan semi-finals.

Lebouef, who won nan 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship successful a sparkling playing career, has been unimpressed pinch some teams’ attack successful Germany.

France, who play Spain successful Munich tonight, person mustered conscionable 3 goals en way to nan past 4 – 2 ain goals and a Kylian Mbappe punishment – while England person managed 5 but not shown immoderate attacking fluency.

Lebouef told Get French Football News: “Deep down of people I support France, but for nan liking of football, I want nan last to beryllium Spain versus nan Netherlands.

“Spain and Germany proved that it’s imaginable to play different way, and nan Netherlands changed their style aft nan group shape – it’s a different squad now. Okay they suffered successful their past match, but they played football. And it’s absorbing to spot that immoderate countries are capable to play offensively. 

“Yes, you request a protect structure, I’ve nary rumor pinch that and Didier Deschamps is nan cleanable illustration of that measurement of thinking.”

🥁 Introducing your last four…

🇪🇸 Spain
🇫🇷 France
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Who wins it? 🤔#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/vkQOd2Yb0x

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024

No ‘alchemy’ successful France aliases England line-ups

Lebouef believes some Deschamps and Gareth Southgate are blameworthy of trying to shoehorn their champion players into a starting XI alternatively than picking their champion team.

He added: “The quality betwixt nine and world shot is that location has ever been nan situation to find nan alchemy pinch players who travel into nan world squad but don’t person clip to activity together. 

“That’s nan occupation of nan world head – to activity retired who is tin of playing pinch whom. And I’m sorry but Gareth Southgate, he doesn’t cognize how. He is incapable of changing his team, he doesn’t cognize really to find that alchemy. And it’s his job.”

Do what Jacquet did!

Lebouef cited France’s World Cup triumph 26 years agone arsenic an illustration of a squad being selected complete individual brilliance.

“In 1996, Aime Jacquet didn’t prime either Eric Cantona aliases David Ginola,” he said. “You’ll request to inquire him why, location must person been a logic arsenic they were nan 2 champion players successful England. But they weren’t successful nan France squad and they weren’t picked successful 1998 and we became world champions.

“That’s nan situation of nan world manager. Taking nan champion existent players, nan ones who costs nan astir money is easy. I could besides beryllium England coach and opportunity I’ll return [Bukayo] Saka, [Phil] Foden, Jude Bellingham, [Harry] Kane.

“But to say, perceive Foden, Jude Bellingham plays for illustration this truthful I can’t play you arsenic it won’t activity out, truthful I’m going to play Anthony Gordon connected nan near because that will activity pinch Bellingham, that’s nan world coach’s occupation – it’s not conscionable to return nan biggest names.

“Okay, England are successful nan semis, if they triumph nan Euros everyone will beryllium happy because England has won thing since 1966, it’s awesome for England. But God it’s boring! We’re truthful bored! The aforesaid pinch France. And yet we support Deschamps because we win.”

England return connected nan Netherlands successful Dortmund tomorrow night.