France coach Laurent Blanc, tasked with rebuilding the national team after its implosion at the 2010 World Cup, starts France's new cycle with a Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus.

As part of his program to restore pride and purpose, Blanc is instructing his players to sing the French national anthem, which in a few cases means the players have to learn the words.

"I have personally encouraged the players to sing the Marseillaise because I was practically certain some of them didn't know the words," Blanc said on Thursday. "I think they will know the words to sing it now, but everyone's free to do what they want. They know my way of thinking, though: if you know the national anthem of your country it's preferable to sing it."