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After the disappointment of loosing in the final of the World Cup to Italy, France are back for another crack at a major tournament, attempting to reclaim the prize they win in 2000 but lost to Greece in 2004. Since that memorable two years between 1998 and 2000 when everything they seemed to touch turned to gold, French form has been inconsistent. As some of the old stars such as Zidane have retired, so fresh players have come through such as Ribery, Benzema and Nasri and the squad looks to have fresh new feel about it. Those Golden Years at the turn of the Millennium ended a frustrating run for the French who had prior to 1998 only been able to claim glory once before, when the European Championships were held on home soil in 1984. The famously superstitious coach Raymond Domenech has brought together a team that is certainly capable of winning the tournament, however qualifying generated more questions than answers. After France’s run to the final of the World Cup in 2006 many felt that it had been achieved without ever hitting their best form. Creditable results had been achieved against the like of Spain, Brazil and Portugal to get to the final but the performance there mirrored much of what had gone before. Whilst the cautious Italian approach to the game stifled any potential French creativity, equally the French possession of the ball didn’t lead one ever to suppose that a goal was in the offing. The chance to gain revenge on the Italians for their final defeat presented itself barely 3 months later when the pair meet in qualifying for Euro 2008, a pumped up French side ran out 3-1 winners, showing the World that perhaps the stronger team had lost on the night in Berlin. The subsequent 0-0 draw in Milan suited both teams in terms of the result, so it’s advantage France going into Euro 2008 when the pair meet again in Group C. However, qualification was far from comfortable for France and the two lacklustre performances against Scotland showed that the French are vulnerable in defence. The Scots present enthusiastic albeit limited opposition, especially to a side with the quality of the French, yet Scotland came away with two 1-0 wins, taking 6 points off them and nearly snatching the second spot in the process. The high tempo pressing game that the Scots adopted unsettled the aristocratic French approach and the opposition at Euro 2008 would certainly have taken due note of the terrier like approach that flustered Domenech’s men to such an extent That such a one dimensional approach to the game would have yielded such unexpected results indicates that the French management still seem unable to influence games from the sidelines or in the dressing room at half time. As the games in Glasgow and Paris unfolded, no French player looked to increase the tempo when in possession to match the Scots pressing game, seemingly unaware that the best approach to combating a high tempo pressing game is to move the ball quicker, something that the technically gifted French should be capable of. No player took responsibility to stay wide with the pair of Ribery and Nasri preferring to constantly cut inside into the welcoming arms of the narrow Scottish defence. No defender took the chance of pushing into midfield and risk leaving the defence to play man against man on McFadden, the lone Scottish striker, and these are all instructions that should have been issued from the sidelines. Whilst Romania will almost certainly adopt a similar approach to Scotland, France will no doubt be thankful that it isn’t the Dutch or the Italian way to adopt the high tempo pressing game, certainly not high up the pitch. Therefore the allocation into Group C may come as something of a blessing in disguise to France. The squad selected shows a logical progression of players as the crop of 1998 and 2000 begin to hang up their playing boots. Just three players remain from the World Cup win of 1998, Thuram, Viera and Henry with several familiar faces being left out for this squad such as Sylvain Wiltord, David Trezeguet, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre and of course the great Zidane. Therefore this Euro 2008 squad has something of an intermediate feel about it with several younger players given their chance as France look to the future. Nevertheless such is the weight of expectation on France that another poor tournament such as at the World Cup in 2002 won’t be tolerated. The squad assembled doesn’t just draw on previous class but Domenech has also given a nod to good form, with St Etienne’s Gomis included as reward for the 16 goals he scored for St. Etienne. However the selection of the squad didn’t please everyone with the in-form David Trezeguet surprisingly omitted despite hitting 20 goals in Serie A on Juventus’ return to Serie A. Question marks hang over several of the squad though, who are seemingly out of form. Thierry Henry has endured a difficult first season at Barcelona posted to the left wing where he has looked increasingly isolated as the season has progressed. He has assured French fans that he will recapture the form in front of goal he showed for Arsenal when playing in the middle whilst Nicolas Anelka is another who has not seen much action in the middle. He has already expressed his dissatisfaction with having to play second fiddle to Didier Drogba at Chelsea and being pushed out to the right side of the pitch and following his winter transfer has managed only 2 goals for his new side. Willy Sagnol, first choice right back as also only seen fleeting action for Bayern this season in Germany. Much like the Dutch, France also need to work out their best combination of players for the starting XI. They may also come to the same realisation that theoretically the best 11 players in a certain formation don’t necessarily work out to be the best combination. Goalkeeping duties are most likely to be done by Lyon’s Gregory Coupet. After missing the first half of the season with injury, his return coincided with Lyon’s return to form as they claimed their 7th Ligue 1 title in a row. After playing second fiddle to Barthez for many seasons he finally gets his chance to stake his claim in the first team and at 35 will feel his time has come. The excellent Sebastien Frey of Fiorentina may have to bide his time if Coupet continues into the veteran stages of his career in international colours. The 27 year old enjoyed another fine season in Italy, helping his side into the Champions League and impressing between the sticks. The promising Steve Mandanda is also taken along to Euro 2008. The 22 year old had a slightly haphazard season at the Stade Velodrome, but the former French U21 keeper certainly has plenty of potential and will benefit from the time with the senior squad. The ceaseless Lilian Thuram has been called into the team for centre-back duties. The Barcelona player is beginning to loose his pace but is still a capable defender whose excellent sense of positioning and timing usually sees him through most games. At 35 this is likely to be his last tournament but rounding off his international carer in style would be a fitting end for him. William Gallas is likely to come in alongside Thuram. Gallas’ pace will be a vital component to the French defence and the versatile defender, who can play anywhere along the back-line, will be expected to cover for Thuram if he does get exposed. Lyon’s Sebastian Squillachi is likely to come in for Thuram if the pace of the tournament is too much for him. He has spent the last two seasons at the Stade Gerland and is most noted for his heading ability, he is yet to score this season either for club or country, despite usually getting a couple of goals a season, so look out for him at French set pieces. The final centre-back option is former Rangers and Newcastle defender Jean Alain Boumsong, who has had a nomadic time of it since his spell on British shores. An 18 month spell at Juventus was ended when he returned to France to play for Lyon, despite being heavily linked with Bordeaux. He made 8 appearances for Lyon in the league but under pressure may still yield mistakes. The left back position will be one of the most hotly contested positions in the team with the excellent pair of Patrice Evra and Eric Abidal both vying for the spot. Both are comfortable defenders and excellent at getting forward and supporting the attack. Choosing between them is almost impossible, although the older and more experienced Abidal, by one year, may just get the nod. Right back duties will probably go to Willy Sagnol of Bayern Munich, who like his left sided team mates is a competent defender but best known for his attacking contributions from his full-back position. However after falling out with Ottmar Hitzfeld at Bayern this season has made only 8 appearances for the German giants. He will be looking for a strong tournament to place himself in the shop window after handing in a transfer request at Christmas. Francois Clerc of Lyon will be the understudy to Sagnol, who has had a consistent campaign with the French Champions. Clerc, who is also able to play in midfield, is probably the strongest of the French full-backs in terms of defending but is less likely to contribute meaningfully going forward, despite his ability to play in midfield, so is only likely to be used in France are defending a lead. France have two of the best defensive midfielders in the business in the shape of Vieira and Makelele, the latter actually getting the position named after him! Vieira played the majority of the second half of the season after missing the first half with injury although a slight tear in his thigh might keep him on the sidelines. Makelele at 35 has been used sparingly by Chelsea this season but may come in if Vieira losses his race for fitness. Jeremy Toulalan, the rising Lyon star, should feature alongside. More attacking than either Vieira or Makelele, he already has 13 caps for his country aged just 24. He was a key part of the Lyon midfield this season as a more defensive operator but with more licence to get forward in national colours will also provide some excellent adventurous passes. The versatile Lassana Diarra has also been called into the squad. The former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder has finally forced a first team spot at Portsmouth and is beginning to excel in midfield. Also capable of playing on the right both in midfield and defence, Diarra will be a valuable asset to the French team. Attacking midfield options include the live wire pair of Ribery and Nasri. Both excel in the centre but may have to content themselves with places on the flanks. Debate still rages about whether the pair can play together and both have blossomed this season away from each other after Ribery’s summer move to Bayern. His input into the Bayern team has at times transformed a one dimensional outfit into a well oiled machine and this could be Ribery’s tournament. Nasri meanwhile is still negotiating a move to Arsenal and France will hope that this doesn’t divert his attention away from the matter in hand. The 20 year old is potentially even more talented than Ribery and has enjoyed the greater responsibility since the departure of Ribery from the Stade Velodrome. Can the pair play together? That is a question that will have to be resolved by Domenech. Another option for the left is Chelsea’s Florent Malouda. The former Lyon left winger struggled to adapt to the faster style of football in the Premiership but finished the season in the team after being dropped to the bench for the middle part of the season. Capable of delivering pinpoint crosses as well as contributing to the attack in the middle with the ball on the right, Malouda is a viable option for the left, especially if the French are looking for natural width. Right wing duties can be taken care of by Sydney Govou. The 28 year old has been one of the mainstays of the Lyon team during their record breaking run at the top of Ligue 1 and usually plays on the right side of three for his club side. However, he started his career as a right winger and could be used there again by France or in the middle. Controversial as this may sound but France’s main striker this year will be Karim Benzema. After a season plundering goals throughout France for Ligue 1 champions Lyon, the young striker is well on his way to becoming a complete striker. Strong in the air, lightening fast and a deadly finisher he combines all the necessary attributes for becoming one of Europe’s most pre-eminent strikers. In red-hot form coming into Euro 2008 he’ll be expected to lead the French line. Thierry Henry should slot in from the inside left position and his service plus experience, will be of immense benefit to young Benzema. Henry has already expressed his confidence that the pair will strike up a rapport on the pitch and they could yet find the goals to fire France to Euro 2008 glory. Nicolas Anelka hasn’t been a revelation since joining Chelsea and much like Henry has been obliged to play from a wider position than he would have ideally chosen. After missing a penalty in the shoot-out against Manchester United for Chelsea, Anelka will be hoping for a strong Euro 2008 and to potentially re-establish his claims on a starting spot up front for his club side. The final option is the lesser known Bafetemy Gomis of St Etienne. Selected ahead of David Trezeguet and Djibril Cisse, the in-form striker hit 2 goals on his debut in a friendly against Ecuador and has looked lively in matches since. The Senegalese born forward may be a surprise choice but his contributions to St. Etienne have already aroused the interest of several of Europe’s bigger sides with Newcastle especially looking at him according to reports. With so many attacking options, especially in midfield where the like of Nasri or Ribery could easily conjure a goal, France look to have some terrific players at their disposal. The relatively young team will have to come together quickly but if Domenech can find the right balance in the team they could easily go onto win Euro 2008. Posted by Paul on Saturday, 7th June 2008 (Average rating 0 from 0 votes. Vote) (0 Comments) |