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Euro 2008 Player Profile: Samir Nasri
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Name: Samir Nasri
Team: France
Group: C; Italy, Netherlands, Romania.
Caps (Goals): 7(2) – as of May 29, 2008
DOB: June 26, 1987 (20 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Club Team: Olympique de Marseille
Samir Nasri is one of approximately 500,000 young French players dubbed, “The next Zidane.” But there are perhaps more similarities here than with most of the others.
Like Zidane, he’s from Marseille. Like Zidane, he’s of Algerian descent. And also like Zidane, he’s a talented midfield playmaker. And if you watch this video, I think you may see similar movement, skills and eye for the ball, with perhaps even a bit more agility. (Wait. Am I allowed to say that without being stoned for blasphemy?)
Nasri is probably at his best as a Zidane-style #10, playing behind one or two strikers, but he’s capable of playing anywhere in the midfield. Former Marseille coach Albert Emon liked to play him as a defensive midfielder, and in last Tuesday’s friendly against Ecuador he played right mid in 4-4-2. But he and Hatem Ben Arfa swapped sides frequently, and he was just as likely to show up on the left.
He has been playing for Marseille since he was nine, and has been involved in France’s youth teams for several years. He was a part of the French U-17 team that won the European championship; he was the player who scored the winning goal, and he was later named player of the tournament. (He’s pictured here holding the trophy with teammates Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa.)
A year ago he gave this quote about his play:
“I have a youthful inconsistency,” he told L’Equipe this week with unyouthful maturity. “I can sparkle for 20 minutes and then disappear for the next 10 … it’s not something that worries me because I consider it perfectly natural for a young player, but it’s certainly something I’m working on improving.”
At the beginning of this season, many people expected this to be his breakout year — the year where his skills on the field caught up with his potential. Unfortunately, his progress was hampered this season by several injuries and a bout with either meningitis or a “meningitis-like virus” that kept him hospitalized for a number of days and off the field for much longer. This may be the reason that he hasn’t had quite the fantastic season of his U17 and France NT teammate Karim Benzema, also twenty years old, who was the top Ligue 1 goalscorer and was named France’s player of the year.
But team managers across Europe see his potential, and his flashes of brilliance, and he’s been linked to a number of large clubs outside of France. At the time of this writing, it looks as if a move to Arsenal is likely.
Before that happens, though, France fans are expecting him to help get them through a very difficult group stage in Euros. And with luck, much farther.
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I was very sad to see him leave for Arsenal and I think it was extremely misguided decision.
I dont think he will do well at ARsenal, anyway, benzima is far better player
Posted from 
Australia
I actually know a cousin of his. He told me that Nasri wasn’t so good when he was a kid but he had a sudden improvement.
I hope he’ll shine at Euro 2008, like the rest of the Bleus.
I’m not holding my breath or anything, but maybe the transfer hasn’t been confirmed yet because he’s still not completely sure about the move. It is his hometown after all, that’s gotta count for something.
that was a pretty wimpy penalty and then hasty follow up a lot like theat ribery one that was on the offside a while ago, you’d think the French would be practising their penalties after ‘06
Posted from 
United States
you’re so cuteeeeeeeee!!!!!im a great big arsenal fan….i hope u will stay thr and rock arsenal coz its d best team ever!!!!!mwahxxxxxx!!!
Posted from 
Malaysia
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I’ve been disappointed in his behavior this year to be honest. All his promises to stay if OM qualified for the CL, and then leaving anyway…it stinks of Ribery. And this season, I don’t think he played to the best of his ability. Like he was taking it easy because he wanted to stay fresh for the Euros.