Samir Nasri wants to help re-establish France as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Les Bleus were reigning world and European champions a decade ago but suffered a disappointing campaign at this year's World Cup in South Africa. France were dogged by off-field problems and went home early after picking up just one point from three matches.
Nasri was watching France's implosion from a safe distance but is back in favour now that Laurent Blanc has replaced Raymond Domenech as coach. And the in-form Arsenal midfielder is determined to see his country back among football's elite.
"My aim is to become one of the most important players in the team," said Nasri, speaking in an exclusive 'Spotlight' interview on Arsenal TV Online.
"We’re aiming to qualify for Euro 2012, and to have a good tournament if we get there. There’s a lot of hunger in the team to make up for France’s poor performances at Euro 2008 and this summer’s World Cup. France didn’t play as well as they might have done at those tournaments so we want to return to the standards we set before and re-establish France as a footballing nation."
Blanc was a member of the France squad that lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and was a popular choice to succeed Domenech after taking Bordeaux - including a certain Marouane Chamakh - to the last eight of the Champions League last season.
The man they call 'Le President' got off to a sticky start when France were humbled by Belarus in Paris at the start of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, but they bounced back with a vital win at Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of this week's double-header against Romania and Luxembourg.
Blanc's results may have been inconsistent but, according to Nasri, the squad’s respect for their new coach has been obvious from the start.
"You could sense everyone wanted to play really well for him and the coach got his message across really well," said Nasri.
"He [Blanc] simply inspires respect: he won the World Cup, he played for Manchester United, Inter and Barcelona and has already proved himself as a coach at Bordeaux by winning the league and taking the club to the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League. That sort of background means the players listen to him and want to give everything for the shirt."
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