It’s a classic case of France potentially winning the World Cup in spite of their coach rather than because of him, such is the abysmal reputation that Raymond Domenech has these days. But they do have super players in their squad so you never know….

France are extremely lucky to be at this World Cup, but we still maintain that they’re not as fortunate as Irish fans would have you believe. They were awful at the start of their Group 7 qualifying campaign, losing in Austria. Two draws against Romania did them no favours, but they actually showed a great deal of steel to get through to the play off while playing somewhere off their peak, and all there is to say about that decider is that, yes, it was handball, but the tie was level at that point and there was every chance that France would have won it anyway. Get over it.

We’d rather watch Yoann Gourcuff than Robbie Keane anyday. Whatever people may try to tell you about the post Zizou days, France have some wonderful players, but their biggest problem would seem to be a coach who is one of the most self-satisfied and self-regarding men in the world of football.

We used to be supporters of Raymond Domenech, as coaching France, a country of talented players but largely clueless fans, is a terribly difficult job. We’ll never forgive the vitriol that rained down on Aime Jacquet from a bourgeois and lazy media before World Cup 98 and used to think that Domenech was the victim of something similar, but he’s not. He’s an empty circus act who thinks that it’s all about him, and he is ruining the international chances of what should have been a brilliant generation. If Laurent Blanc was in charge, then we’d be backing France at a stupid price (currently ) but with Domenech they’re to be swerved, unless there’s a wholesale mid tournament player revolt.

In the main, see above, but to sum Domenech up: „You always lose when your opponents score and you don’t”. He is the Graham Taylor of the new millennium and he’s France’s biggest handicap.

The Lyon goalkeeper has been outstanding in their Champions League campaign, and the days when French fans would wonder at the name of Fabien Barthez’ s long term successor are long gone. One of an outstanding crop of young French keepers, Lloris has established himself ahead of Steve Mandanda as the top man. He needs to have a big tournament, though, and he is prone to the odd error. He must be pitch perfect in South Africa for France to have any chance of grabbing a second World Cup.

The French have been waiting for Zinedine Zidane’s successor since the bow-legged maestro hung up his boots, and, in the rapidly maturing Gourcuff, they may just have found him. Yes, his form has suffered along with that of Bordeaux this season, but the lack of end of season pressure may just mean that Gourcuff is fresh for the World Cup. One potential factor which could yet hamper Gourcuff is where his coach elects to play him, but if he gets anything approaching a Zidane style free role, then he could be brilliant.

Before we start, we’re not going to call Lassana Diarra the new Claude Makalele. Never has a player’s role in a team’s success been so overstated as that of Makalele, and it’s nonsense to suggest that France have been crying out for someone to fill his boots.

The Makalele myth exists for the kind of people who like to give the impression that they see something different to the rest of us, that they’re somehow superior and more tapped into the game. „Ah, yes, Zidane was brilliant, and you all saw him, but what about Makalele?” Diarra is a different kind of player, more high energy, and if he plays well, and controls the midfield as he can, then France have a chance in South Africa. If he doesn’t, then they don’t.

He’s more mobile than the former Chelsea man, and it’s not enough, never been enough, to simply pick a midfield anchor. They have to move, and play at a high tempo, and this guy can do both. Domenech probably won’t pick him, because Diarra once gave him a funny look in training, but if he does, then Lass could be France’s kingpin.

Read the article on OddsPreview.com

2010 World Cup team profile – France

It’s a classic case of France potentially winning the World Cup in spite of their coach rather than because of him, such is the abysmal reputation that Raymond Domenech has these days. But they do have super players in their squad so you never know….

France are extremely lucky to be at this World Cup, but we still maintain that they’re not as fortunate as Irish fans would have you believe. They were awful at the start of their Group 7 qualifying campaign, losing in Austria. Two draws against Romania did them no favours, but they actually showed a great deal of steel to get through to the play off while playing somewhere off their peak, and all there is to say about that decider is that, yes, it was handball, but the tie was level at that point and there was every chance that France would have won it anyway. Get over it.

We’d rather watch Yoann Gourcuff than Robbie Keane anyday. Whatever people may try to tell you about the post Zizou days, France have some wonderful players, but their biggest problem would seem to be a coach who is one of the most self-satisfied and self-regarding men in the world of football.

We used to be supporters of Raymond Domenech, as coaching France, a country of talented players but largely clueless fans, is a terribly difficult job. We’ll never forgive the vitriol that rained down on Aime Jacquet from a bourgeois and lazy media before World Cup 98 and used to think that Domenech was the victim of something similar, but he’s not. He’s an empty circus act who thinks that it’s all about him, and he is ruining the international chances of what should have been a brilliant generation. If Laurent Blanc was in charge, then we’d be backing France at a stupid price (currently ) but with Domenech they’re to be swerved, unless there’s a wholesale mid tournament player revolt.

In the main, see above, but to sum Domenech up: „You always lose when your opponents score and you don’t”. He is the Graham Taylor of the new millennium and he’s France’s biggest handicap.

The Lyon goalkeeper has been outstanding in their Champions League campaign, and the days when French fans would wonder at the name of Fabien Barthez’ s long term successor are long gone. One of an outstanding crop of young French keepers, Lloris has established himself ahead of Steve Mandanda as the top man. He needs to have a big tournament, though, and he is prone to the odd error. He must be pitch perfect in South Africa for France to have any chance of grabbing a second World Cup.

The French have been waiting for Zinedine Zidane’s successor since the bow-legged maestro hung up his boots, and, in the rapidly maturing Gourcuff, they may just have found him. Yes, his form has suffered along with that of Bordeaux this season, but the lack of end of season pressure may just mean that Gourcuff is fresh for the World Cup. One potential factor which could yet hamper Gourcuff is where his coach elects to play him, but if he gets anything approaching a Zidane style free role, then he could be brilliant.

Before we start, we’re not going to call Lassana Diarra the new Claude Makalele. Never has a player’s role in a team’s success been so overstated as that of Makalele, and it’s nonsense to suggest that France have been crying out for someone to fill his boots.

The Makalele myth exists for the kind of people who like to give the impression that they see something different to the rest of us, that they’re somehow superior and more tapped into the game. „Ah, yes, Zidane was brilliant, and you all saw him, but what about Makalele?” Diarra is a different kind of player, more high energy, and if he plays well, and controls the midfield as he can, then France have a chance in South Africa. If he doesn’t, then they don’t.

He’s more mobile than the former Chelsea man, and it’s not enough, never been enough, to simply pick a midfield anchor. They have to move, and play at a high tempo, and this guy can do both. Domenech probably won’t pick him, because Diarra once gave him a funny look in training, but if he does, then Lass could be France’s kingpin.

Read the article on OddsPreview.com

Postat de pe data de 20 mai, 2010 in categoria România în lume. Poti urmari comentariile acestui articol prin RSS 2.0. Acest articol a fost vizualizat de 580 ori.

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