Blanc not afraid to walk

Blanc: Tough task

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Laurent Blanc admits he will quit his post as France national boss should he fail to deliver results.

The former Bordeaux boss has replaced the unpopular Raymond Domenech at the helm, following a disastrous showing by Les Bleus at the 2010 World Cup.

His first job is to restore order to a warring squad, and he has wasted no time in stamping his authority on the team by dropping all of the 23 men who marred their country's reputation in South Africa for an upcoming friendly against Norway.

Blanc is, however, aware that he must also produce on the field, with the 2012 European Championship in his sights.

He claims the tournament remains his sole focus at present and has revealed that he will be prepared to walk away from the job should he deem his efforts to have been a failure.

"It's Euro 2012 where I'm heading for," Blanc told L'Equipe. "I haven't signed for four years as certain people have written. I have signed for two years.

Authoritative

"After, if we qualify and if we have a good Euro, we can maybe discuss renewing it for two years. I will be judged on results. It's not my thing to continue when I have failed.

"If I don't manage to be authoritative with the group that I choose, I will go to see the Federation and I will tell them that I am leaving."

While change must be implemented quickly, Blanc has warned the French public not to expect miracles from a new-look side.

"I am not a magician," he continued. "If we want to become credible again, we have to change things...by changing the criteria of selection which have been ours these last 10 years.

"I will keep as fundamental criteria the spirit, behaviour, commitment to the shirt. That's all vital. Those that don't have it, that don't want it, let them go."

Blanc, who is set to start Euro 2012 qualification in September, has also vowed to give Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema every opportunity to stake a claim for a regular role, despite seeing the pair quizzed by police about events in their private life.

Influential

"I'm not deluding myself, there are maybe one, two, three, six who have the chance to still be there (in September)," continued the 44-year-old.

"Norway isn't a gift. But for certain players, it's their chance to capitalise on.

"Judicial enquiries are very long. I am here for two years. And Ribery and Benzema are among the players who are potentially very influential in the team.

"You have to respect the presumption of innocence, and the interest of the France team has to be fundamental."

However, Blanc claims no-one is indispensable, apart perhaps from Lyon shot-stopper Hugo Lloris.

He said: "No. If you can name me one, bravo, because I really don't see one, apart from the goalkeeper."