France's Gallas ready for new responsibility
CLAIREFONTAINE, France (Reuters) - France's William Gallas said on Monday he was ready for the responsibility of helping young players breathe new life into the national squad after a disappointing Euro 2008 campaign.
The squad, including a host of young players selected by coach Raymond Domenech, gathered at the training centre to prepare for Wednesday's friendly against Sweden in Gothenburg.
At 31 and with 65 caps for France, Arsenal captain Gallas is second in seniority only to Thierry Henry, who is the same age but has 102 caps.
With the retirement of Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele and the absence through injury of Patrick Vieira, Gallas will take a more leading role.
"The only thing that has changed is on the pitch. I will take on a few more responsibilities as I will be the veteran defender," Gallas told reporters after a team training session.
"We're all adults, we all know what we have to do...we'll have our own rules. Whether it's with Thierry (Henry) or with two or three other players, we'll have little meetings to decide how we're going to proceed," said Gallas.
"I already do it at Arsenal, I'm used to it," he said.
Gallas said he was not after the position of captain which he felt should go to Henry.
"My role will be to talk to my defenders on the pitch," he said.
Girondins Bordeaux striker Yoann Gourcuff, one of the young players making their debut in the squad, said he was keeping his head down.
"For now I'm keeping quite a low profile, trying to get to know the rules little by little, get to know the players and the staff and find my place," he said.
After two seasons at AC Milan, Gourcuff hopes to make the most of his return to the French championship and of the need for new blood in the national squad to consolidate his place.
"I didn't play much in Milan and that made it tricky in terms of getting selected," he said.
"I'm only 22, I still have a lot to prove. The fact that Domenech has selected young players is good motivation and it proves there can be room for us," he said.
(Writing by Estelle Shirbon, editing by Clare Lovell)
