MALOUDA IS LAZY

The Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has launched an outstanding attack on the Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda for his lack of workrate in the 2-0 defeat for the French national team at the hands of Spain.

The French were expected to reach the semifinals of the competition after coming into the tournament on the back of a 20 match unbeaten run. However, they were defeated at 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the competition, which once again reared the ugly head of France in a major tournament. Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso scored both goals for Spain in the 2-0 win.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who has not been part of the international team for the last couple of seasons, has said that the interest shown by Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda in order to track back for the run of Alonso is the best indicator of the French national team as a whole.

Florent Malouda was selected by the French national team manager as one of the few experienced players within the team. However, he did not utilise his experience, as he allowed Alonso to run freely into the box and score with a header when he could have tracked back.

"The thing that summed up France for me was Malouda's reaction for Spain's goal. It game of this magnitude, his reaction was disgraceful. You've got to show something, but there was no hunger or desire," said Jamie Carragher in an interview after the 2-0 win for Spain in the quarter-final stage.

This means that Spain will now be facing Portugal in the semifinals of the competition, while England and Italy will be fighting each other for a spot against Germany in the other semi-final. Despite having a lot of stars on the team, the French were unable to do well at a major tournament yet again.