Makelele lays it on line for France

France midfielder Claude Makelele admits the defending European champions are still not firing on all cylinders as the tournament enters its knockout stages.

Makelele, whose absence through injury was clearly felt by Les Bleus in the 2-2 draw with Croatia, admits France have to start to improve if they are to successfully defend their title.

Makelele admitted: “It’s normal people are being critical of us but that’s because they have come to expect so much of us.

“We want to start playing again the football we know that we are capable of.”

Makelele has been alongside Patrick Vieira in midfield for the victories against England and Switzerland and admits that the French cannot be satisfied with having conceded four goals in three matches in Group B.

“We know it’s not acceptable and it is something we must pay attention to if we want to go all the way in this tournament.”

Talk of a crisis for Les Bleus is premature, however, as the French topped Group B and booked what should be an easier match with Greece at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Group runners-up England were on the other hand paired with hosts Portugal in what is seen as the pick of the quarter-final matches.

Robert Pires, who has a Portuguese father, pointed out that the hosts did not get the same adverse reaction from their press after the 2-1 defeat by the Greeks in the opening game as the French have with two wins and a draw in three matches.

“In Portugal people seem to be more patient with the team,” said the Arsenal player.

“Here journalists do not always turn up the pressure and criticise everything and nothing.

“What do people expect of us? I simply don’t know. Why not ask Spain (who have been eliminated) if they would like to be on our ’bad’ position?

“We have reached the quarter-finals and we have hopes of going further – that remains to be seen of course.”

France will be deprived of Willy Sagnol for the rest of the tournament after he broke his left arm in the match with Switzerland.

William Gallas is carrying an ankle injury while Patrick Vieira is also not 100%.

Team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret will not yet say whether the pair will be fit to face the Greeks in Lisbon.

Ferret said: “We will just have to wait and see if they can take part in the next game.”

France coach Jacques Santini may consider a recall for Marcel Desailly if Gallas is also ruled out of contention with Lilian Thuram then probably switched to the right.

He is likely to wait as late as possible for a decision on Vieira as his natural replacement – Olivier Dacourt – had a poor game against the Croats.

Greece have never been so far in a major tournament before while the French have won four of the last five competitions they have entered and must be considered favourites to go through to the last four.