AFP/Munich
Franck Ribery will have an integral part to play for France at Euro 2012, as “Les Bleus” seek to erase the painful memories of an inept display at the last World Cup in South Africa. This past season saw 29-year-old Ribery enjoy his best campaign since joining Bayern Munich from Marseille in 2007 but the winger has struggled desperately to replicate his club form on the international stage. Ribery scored his first goal in over three years for France in Sunday’s unconvincing 3-2 friendly win over Iceland, saying afterwards that ending that drought had liberated him. “It’s been three years since I’ve scored for France. It was becoming difficult to have to justify myself, people were asking questons,” he said. “Yesterday I was really liberated, very happy, very satisfied. But that doesn’t surprise me because what I did... I’ve done for an entire year with Bayern and couldn’t manage to reproduce it with France. I don’t know why. “I hope that this time I’m back on track again.” Part of the problem appears to be that Ribery feels unloved in France, with his reputation not helped by claims from a prostitute in 2010 that he and at least two other French players had slept with her while she was underage. “Recently with the France team I haven’t been relaxed, able to let go, always being criticised,” said Ribery, who was nevertheless cheered when he replaced Yoann Gourcuff, who was booed off the pitch, in the 75th minute of Sunday’s match. “There comes a time when you begin to ask yourself what you should do. It’s been a long time since my name has rung out in a French stadium. “I hope that this is the trigger. When the public calls out my name, that gives me even more confidence to try things, to score, to dribble. These are things that I’d lost. I’m loved at Bayern.” The former Marseille man made his international debut in May 2006, aged 23, and has experienced extreme highs and lows during his time with Les Bleus. Ribery started six of seven matches at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as France made it all the way to the final before losing to Italy on penalties.