Every weekday before Euro 2012 begins on June 8, we’ll preview a national team in the field, beginning with Group A and finishing with Group D. Today we kick off Group D with France, which stumbled through perhaps the most disastrous World Cup campaign ever during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
If you didn’t follow France’s World Cup campaign way back in 2010, you missed out on some serious #DRAMA. A lame-duck coach in Raymond Domenech who was famous for antagonizing the press and for relying on astrology. A mutiny led by the team’s captain, Patrice Evra. A finish at the bottom of Group A. A player, Nicholas Anelka, who got into such a bad fight with Domenech that Anelka was sent home during the tournament. Suspensions for multiple players, including Anelka and Evra. Terrible results on the field.
In short, things didn’t go so well for Les Bleus two years ago, but it looks as though they’re starting to move in the right direction, even if they haven’t purged all of the poison from the current squad. Evra is no longer captain, but he’s still a starter and Ribery has long been a divisive force for club and country.
And yet, in spite of the forces working against France, a new coach, a reorganization of the team’s core and a fortunate Euro draw seem to have conspired to help France advance to the quarterfinals. Can they capitalize? Only time, and perhaps psychics, will tell.
France is pretty set at ‘keeper, with Lyon’s Hugo Lloris, who certainly deserves at least a mention in the “Greatest Goalkeeper in the World” conversation, leading the way for Les Bleus. Marseille’s Steve Mandana, who’s just a hair behind Lloris, is perfectly capable of stepping in to replace Lloris should the latter suffer an injury.
The defense, on the other hand, is not so solid, especially in the middle. Milan’s Philippe Mexès and Adil Rami seem to be the choice pairing, but after years of being ignored for national team duty, Mexès hasn’t exactly wowed anyone with his defending. He and Rami will probably have at least a few moments this tournament when each looks at the other with a “Whodunnit?” look.
As mentioned before, somehow Patrice Evra is still a starter, even though his Man U form has been spotty, while Lille defender Mathieu Debuchy starts on the right. I would personally prefer a complete defensive overhaul, with Lyon’s Anthony Réveillère on the right, Man City’s Gaël Clichy on the left, and Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the middle, probably for Rami. But I’m not France’s manager… yet.
MIDFIELD
The middle of France’s 4-3-3 setup suffered a blow when Rennes’ defensive mid Yann M’Vila suffered an injury during a friendly. Fortunately, France have more than enough power in the middle of the pitch thanks to Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye and Alou Diarra. Joining them will be Florent Malouda, who recently won the Champions League with Chelsea. He still carries some of the bitter taste of 2010 with him, but Malouda is solid defensively and at his best can get forward well and create on the left side of the pitch.
BUT. It’s too damn bad Hatem ben Arfa doesn’t appear to be a starter on this side; the Newcastle sparkplug has plenty of tricks up his sleeve and always brings an extra bit of energy to the team. He’ll probably play the clichéd “super-sub” role this summer.
FORWARDS
Ah, the beauty of the attack. If you know anything about French history, you wouldn’t suspect Les Bleus to produce adept offensive players. Then again, you wouldn’t expect them to produce good defenders, either. What you might expect, actually, is for them to submit to Germany's demand that all of France’s best players join Ze Germans during major international tournaments. The French are keen on those sort of collaborative setups.
OK, enough of that. Karim Benzema is good. Really, really good. I saw him play during his penultimate season at Lyon, during the last of their Ligue 1 title campaigns (2008). Benzema played on a different plane; you could tell that at age 20 he was already capable of playing at one of the best clubs in the world. Quick on the ball, supremely gifted technically, a great decision-maker, and a team player, Benzema is one of the few players capable of this:
Karim went on to Real Madrid, of course, where he has begun to make a name for himself after some early struggles. On the flanks will be Franck Ribéry, who is a cancer, and Samir Nasri, who struggled a bit to find a place at Man City, but who can be one of the world’s best when he’s focused and on his game. In case you haven’t guessed, France will work the flanks at the Euro.
MANAGER
Laurent Blanc is a national hero, having played for the 1998 World Cup team. He’s also not a racist, according to white French people. Then again, he’s also not Raymond Domenech, so most France fans accept that as enough qualification these days.
INTANGIBLES
France as a nation is entering a period of change, with former president and angry troll Nicolas Sarkozy falling to Socialist François Hollande in this year’s elections. Good vibes are reentering the French atmosphere, which reeks of cheese… does this mean France will recapture the Euro, which they last won in 2000?
Probably not. But that doesn’t mean France can’t be a nation of dreamers.
RANDOM FACT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN
Franck Ribéry wasn’t born that ugly; he was made that way thanks to a horrific car accident! When he was two, Ribéry and his family survived a massive wreck, and Franck required over 100 stitches on his face. So think about THAT the next time you poke fun.
Also, he and Karim Benzema (allegedly) like underage hookers. But who doesn’t, right? RIGHT?
MATCHES
June 11, vs. England. 12:00 pm ET (Donetsk, Ukraine)
June 15, vs. Ukraine. 12:00 pm ET (Donetsk, Ukraine)
June 19, vs. Sweden. 2:45 pm ET (Kiev, Ukraine)
PREDICTION
First in Group D. This is a dangerous, dangerous prediction given France’s recent history, but dammit, these other teams just aren’t that good.
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