体坛英语新闻：Former France footballer Lizarazu: France will improve

MOSCOW, June 26 (Xinhua) -- France are improving, said Bixente Lizarazu in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Tuesday evening after the match between France and Denmark.

Lizarazu, 48-year-old former defender of team France when they won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championships, watched the match which ended with the first goalless draw at this World Cup.

"It is not the most beautiful game in the competition," he told Xinhua. "Denmark just defended so in the end the game is not funny to see."

In the Luzhniki Stadium where 78,000 spectators watched with boos, the match appeared boring, but enough for both teams to enter the knockout stage.

Lizarazu showed understanding to the performance. "These three matches are in one competition, and then there is another one when you play one game and you can go home or you can continue. Totally different."

"So this match is like everyone said 'OK we can continue'," he added.

When asked if France could improve in following matches, Lizarazu gave a positive reply.

"Yes we will improve," he said. "In 2016 we were No. 2 and this time we have finished the final."

France will face Argentina in the knockout round on Saturday.