Between now and the opening ceremony, I'll be taking a look at the nations participating in this year's World Cup, an event which is slowly consuming me with excitement. Share my pain! Today we complete Group A with France, a country still getting over Euro 2008.Cast your minds back to a couple of summers ago, just before the European Championships got underway. Remember how everyone was saying how inept Raymond Domenech was, that however well France did he'd be leaving after the tournament? Then recall how abject they were, those humiliating defeats at the hands of Holland and Italy. The fallout should have forced French football into a long, dark night of the soul, an extended period of introspection, in which it realised that for all his charisma (and I use that word advisedly), Domenech could not go on as coach. And yet here we are, May 2010, and the man has, somehow, hung on. God help us, or more specifically, France.
How did they get there?
You really expect me to mention that match again? Not a chance.
Who's the coach?
You may have surmised from my opening paragraph that I don't have much time for Raymond Domenech. In actual fact, nothing could be further from the truth. I find Domenech entertaining in a plethora of ways, his relationship with the media is a source of perpetual fascination, but when it comes to managing, he has made some questionable decisions. The continued exclusion of Mexes, undoubtedly the best French centre-back around, is one which I will never understand, although the word is that he will be selected for South Africa. Robert Pires is another to have suffered at the hands of Domenech, reportedly because he has the wrong star sign. There comes a point when eccentricity becomes dangerous, and Domenech crossed that line a long time ago.
Ones to watch:
Despite the ineptitude of the coach, this is a team who are, on paper, equipped to advance into the latter stages of the tournament. But we said that in 2008 didn't we? However, at the risk of sounding too pessimistic, let's take a look at what France do have.
In goal, Hugo Lloris appears to have cemented the number 1 spot, a choice which I absolutely endorse. He is an excellent prospect, and is another player who, if he performs well enough, will be chased by Europe's top clubs. Although he has yet to distinguish himself on the biggest occasions, particularly the Champions League, he already possesses an air of calm, an essential quality in goalkeepers. He'll probably need it, because his defence are going to be asking plenty of him. Patrice Evra is one of the best full-backs in the world, whilst Sagna is solid enough. But the centre-back pairing worries me, even more so if Mexes is not called up. William Gallas has never recovered his Chelsea form at Arsenal, and is an increasingly erratic presence, despite his goal threat. He will be partnered by either Boumsong or Ciani. I would personally choose the latter, as although Boumsong has improved during his time at Lyon, I still wouldn't trust him against, say, Cavani, or Forlan. Ciani has been a strong performer for Marseilles this season.
In midfield, much depends on whether Lass Diarra can recover from the malaise which has descended upon his Real Madrid form. Having enjoyed a decent start to his career there, he has lost the confidence of Pellegrini, but should be able to draw on his extensive qualities for Les Bleus. Alongside him, Toulalan is unspectacular but ever-reliable, and those two will be expected to shield the defence. Ahead of them lies the key man for France, Yoann Gourcuff. Inexplicably offloaded by Milan in the same summer that they sold Kaka, the 24-year old has emerged as one of the top attacking midfielders in Europe. Like Diarra, he lost some of his early-season form as Bordeaux faltered in the Champions League and Ligue 1, but for France, he is indispensable, particularly given the issues that currently surround Franck Ribery, on and off the pitch. Gourcuff plays either as a conventional number 10, or further forward behind the strikers. Blessed with strength, stunning individual skill and an extensive range of passing, even Domenech has been sensible enough to build the team around him. After an indifferent Euro 2008, this is his chance to show how much he has progressed.
How will they do?
Well now. For all that I've ripped into their coach, questioned their defence and generally talked them down, I fully expect France to qualify from Group A. Why, I hear you cry? Well, we've already established that the Group is a three-way tussle for two qualifying spots. With South Africa sadly last (I can't wait until they top the group, can you?) and Uruguay best placed to take one of them, it now comes down to France and Mexico. Perhaps I'm Euro-centric, maybe I want Gourcuff to spit in the eye of Silvio Berlusconi, possibly I'm looking forward to their potential round of 16 match with Argentina, but I can see France scraping through with their customary panache. And by panache, I mean a draw, goal difference, something like that. Then Argentina will embarrass them and surely, surely, surely Domenech will leave. Surely.
My prediction: Eliminated at the round of 16.
Previous previews: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay.
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