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France did not deserve to go further: Platini
Michel Platini, who inspired France to their first major trophy, says that the current team did not deserve to reach the semi-finals.
Michel Platini, the man who inspired France to their first major trophy when they won the 1984 European Championship, says that the current French team did not deserve to reach the Euro 2004 semi-finals.
The holders were beaten 1-0 by outsiders Greece in the quarter-finals to continue their disappointing run after their group stage exit in the 2002 World Cup.
"France's performance did not live up to expectations," Platini told the tournament's website on Thursday. "We did not play well. Even if the team did put their heart into it we did not play well enough to deserve a place in the semi-finals."
Platini scored a remarkable nine goals from midfield in France's five games in 1984 but then had to look on in frustration as they went through a barren period before winning the World Cup on home soil 14 years later.
He said, however, that he did not feel the country had entered another slump.
"France is still among the great football nations and the important thing is that the team takes part in all the major tournaments. Talents will eventually emerge," he said.
"We have had a formidable generation of players and others do not want us to win everything, it's normal."
In France's absence Platini said he felt Portugal and the Czech Republic were the two best teams in the tournament and expected the Czechs to beat Greece on Thursday to book a place in Sunday's final against the hosts.
HIGHEST QUALITY
"In different ways, Portugal and the Czech Republic have displayed the highest quality. Both teams have attractive attacking styles," he said.
"Portugal have a coach that knows how to get the best out of the team," he said of Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.
"I have been especially impressed by the way Scolari has managed to reposition and lift Portugal's game since the beginning of the tournament (when they lost 2-1 to Greece).
"The team has become very strong. We all know the best players. It is not their value that impresses but team performances. The Czechs have more individual qualities and should qualify for the final."
Platini, who made a huge impact iy during his triple European Player of the Year spell with Juventus in the 1980s, suggested the cross-border movement of players had contributed to the early exit of most of the traditional soccer powers.
Germany, Italy and Spain failed to get beyond the group stage while England and France went out in the quarter-finals.
"It is difficult to say why," said Platini. "One important reason is the fact that the other teams play just as well thanks to the Bosman rule which enables foreign players to join the best European clubs.
"In the most competitive leagues they can sharpen their skills. It is exporting countries that win the great tournaments: Brazil 2002 and this Euro's semi-finalists."
Platini said the Czech Republic's 3-2 comeback group win over the Netherlands and Portugal's penalty shootout success against England in the last eight had been his favourite games, while Maniche's "magnificent" effort for Portugal in their 2-1 win against the Dutch on Wednesday was his favourite goal.
