Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri has said France and England lack a clear playing identity, while hailing Spain as the model.
Speaking on Canal+ Foot this weekend, the ex-France international questioned the midfield balance in the current French generation and compared it to the Spanish system.
“France do NOT have a game identity, nor do the English. We have a lot of talents in the current generation but they are offensive talents. We don’t have midfielders capable of giving them balls,” Nasri said.
Nasri praised La Roja’s philosophy, saying their style remains consistent regardless of personnel.
“Spain is a philosophy of play. Kids all know how to play as a team. You can put eleven new players, a new coach, the Spanish team will play the same way. It’s their identity of play.”
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The 37-year-old, who retired in 2021 after spells at Arsenal, Man City, Sevilla and West Ham, also weighed in on Zinedine Zidane potentially taking over the French national team:
> “For Zidane, I will wait a little bit. That’s what I hope to see — a game identity. But when I see the players he has available, it will be complicated in midfield.”
France and England are both stacked with attacking talent — Mbappe, Olise, Barcola, Saka, Foden, Palmer — but Nasri believes both nations lack the deep-lying playmakers to link play.
