Abidal awe-struck by idol Thuram

France defender Eric Abidal was once hailed as “the new Lilian Thuram” but the full-back claims he is still overwhelmed by the ability of the man who will play alongside him in Sunday’s World Cup final with Italy.

Abidal, who plays for Lyon, was compared to Thuram by his manager at former club Lille, Claude Puel, before he had even won a cap for Les Bleus.