Blanc wants either Ukraine or Poland in Euro 2012

The former Bordeaux boss has a lot of respect for the tournament hosts but he would rather play one of them than have to tackle much-fancied Germany or holders Spain.France coach Laurent Blanc has admitted that he would like his side to be placed in a group alongside either Ukraine or Poland in Friday’s draw for Euro 2012.The joint hosts have been placed in Pot One alongside the two finalists from last year’s World Cup, Spain and the Netherlands, while Germany and England have been pushed into Pot Two. Consequently, there is a chance that France, who are in Pot Four, could end up in a pool with Spain, Germany and Pot Three's Portugal. That difficult prospect means that Blanc is praying for his side to be grouped with one of the host nations. "I have great respect for both teams, but if you come across them, I think it's better," Les Bleus' coach told RMC Sport. After a calamitous campaign in South Africa, France are on the rise again under Blanc, but they are not considered among the favourites to regain a title they last won in 2000.However, Uefa president Michel Platini, who played 72 times for Les Bleus, believes that they should not be discounted. "France are not the favorites, but I think Laurent Blanc has done a good job,” he said. “The team are getting better. [But] if they want to become a great team, they must produce good results in the Euros." France qualified for the tournament by topping Group D by one point ahead of Bosnia & Herzegovina, with Blanc’s troops just losing one game, their opening fixture against Belarus, along the way.