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France duo fit for Spain

Image: Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri: France duo declared fit to face Spain

Samir Nasri and Franck Ribery have been declared fit ahead of France's meeting with Spain on Saturday.

Nasri and Ribery are ready for quarter-final clash

Samir Nasri and Franck Ribery have been declared fit ahead of France's meeting with Spain on Saturday. Both players missed training on Wednesday as Nasri was nursing a knee injury, while team-mate Ribery was suffering the effects of a blister. France assistant coach Alain Boghossian dismissed speculation the duo were doubts for the quarter-final, saying their absence was purely precautionary. He said: "The day after a match, there's fatigue and it's always difficult. They missed training yesterday (Wednesday) to look after some little niggles. Everyone will definitely be able to participate this afternoon." Laurent Blanc's right-hand man also backed up his manager's version of the events that unfolded in the France dressing room in the aftermath of the defeat to Sweden.

Bust-up

A reported bust-up between Hatem Ben Arfa and his manager, and an angry exchange between Alou Diarra and Nasri has already been played down by the coach. And former midfielder Boghossian has rejected suggestions of a similar situation to the unrest that cost France in the 2010 World Cup. He continued: "It's not comparable at all. "There were words spoken but it was the normal exchanges you get in a changing room. It would have been worse if there had been nothing. "We said things to each other, but just like a couple. We've qualified, so we can bounce back."

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