Yohan Cabaye has claimed that Steven Gerrard is the "soul" of England's team and the man that France fear the most.
The 26-year-old has seen the quality of the England captain during his excellent first season in the Premier League with Newcastle and is wary of the damage he can cause.
With Yann M'Vila struggling to be fit, there is a good chance that Cabaye will play against France on Monday. The former Lille man believes that negating the influence of the Liverpool captain is key to his own team's chances.
"Who do we fear most? Steven Gerrard is a very important player, very powerful and an inspirational player, a leader," said Cabaye. "He is the soul of this team, the captain, and will be like a king in this game.
"He can be very aggressive going forward but defensively he is also important. It is important to try and nullify him.
"Some people say we are favourites but the English team, even with their injuries recently, is very strong and Ukraine will be as well at home. But we will try to win with our style of play. Personally I am ready for the battle and a good result on Monday will help to build confidence."
Cabaye has made 13 appearancs for France since making his debut in 2010.
Sam Hughes
