FFF (Fédération Française de Football)
Confederation: UEFA
FIFA Ranking (Nov 09): 7
Previous Appearances: 12 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006
Fixtures
France v Uruguay 9 June; Cape Town
France v Mexico 17 June; Polokwane
France v South Africa 22 June; Bloemfontein
Record
1930, 1934, 1954, 1966, 2002 First Round; 1938 Quarter Finals; 1982 Fourth place; 1958 & 1986 Third place, 2006 Runners-up, 1998 Champions
Background
With great players like Just Fontaine in the squad the French finished third in 1958. The fabulous Fontaine set the record of goals scored in the final phase of the World Cup with 13 goals. France finished third in 1986 and fourth in 1982. Les Bleus won the World Cup for the first time with Michael Platini on home soil against Brazil in 1998 (3-0). In the last outing in 2006, France was the runner-up.
The road to the 2010 World Cup
It might appear that France made a cool march to South Africa because it lost only once in the World Cup qualifiers. But the actual process was not all that easy and smooth.
France was placed in Group Seven with Serbia, Austria, Lithuania, Romania, and the Faroe Islands when the line-up for the World Cup qualifiers was made in 2007 in South Africa. Fans of the French team were expecting nothing short of a cake-walk for Coach Raymond Domenech’s side. Instead they got a shock for starters. In their first match against Austria, Les Bleus lost 3-1 away to Austria. This unexpected reversal of the wishful thinking irritated, humiliated, and frustrated the ardent supporters.
Not just that. It also worked as a dampener about the prospects of France in the ensuing World Cup despite the fact that the national team managed an undefeated run for the rest of the qualifiers. France beat Serbia 2-1, before drawing 2-2 away to Romania; and won the next three matches 1-0. Still the fans were not enthused.
The blood of the coach Raymond Domenech was what everyone was after, as France’s lack of creativity and ability in every zone of the field became far too obvious. The narrow 1-0 victory away from the Faroe Islands was the last straw. The Islands always get defeated by tons…
The French could have still managed to come first in the group, even on match-day, though they were re four points behind Serbia. However, Les Bleus blew away the chance with two 1-1 draws in a row against Romania at home and against the leaders Serbia away.
Hence, the peeved supporters were not delighted in France’s 5-0 demolition of the Faroe Islands, and the 3-1 win against Austria in the last rounds of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. As runners-up of Group 7, France became eligible for the play-offs.
France clashed with the Republic of Ireland at Croke Park in the first leg of the play –off. France was lucky to get away with a 1-0 away win, Nicolas Anelka being the scorer. Unlike the first leg, the encounter at Paris was exciting, both teams going all out. Robby Keane struck for Ireland and the match went to extra time. France finally scored the all important goal in a most unusual manner. A free-kick in the first period of extra-time, set up William Gallas’ match winner. But the bizarre fact was that Thierry Henry had handled the ball and it was his hand that had directed the ball to Gallas. Protests by the Irish players were ignored by the match officials. France had finally sealed a place for itself in the 2010 World Cup.
Later on Ireland demanded a replay-a move which was supported by the guilt ridden Thierry Henry, but FIFA refused. Instead FIFA brought up the idea of including Ireland as a 33rd team. But that brain wave got nowhere.
Strengths
On paper France have a top team. Their star players play for great clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, OL, Barcelona etc. thus no one can deny that France has the potential to claim the World Cup. France have one of the most dangerous attacking units in world football with Thierry Henry, Anelka, Ribery, Benzema, and Gourcuff.
Weaknesses
Central defence is glaringly weak, without proper balance. While Gallas is good in the position, Abidal is not a central defender. There is a school of thought that Squillaci should be the central defender along with Gallas. The squad is not well knit and this has been the failure of the coach Raymond Domenech.
The Coach
The management style of Raymond Domenech is very unpredictable. His stature is at its lowest ebb right now in France. The relationship on the ground is not what it should be and football has always held the coach responsible for this..
Star Men
Thierry Henry :
The flamboyant striker has a lot at stake in the 2010 World Cup. He even planned to resign in the aftermath of the incident that propelled France into the finals. This could very well be his last World Cup and he would very much love to sign off from the grand arena in grand style. Henry was nowhere near his best in the 2008 Euro Cup. So with a lot to atone for including the ‘guilty hand’, Henry is expected to play his heart out in South Africa. However, it is now confirmed that Henry will not be there in the starting eleven and will be used as a substitute, at least in the initial matches.
Franck Ribery :
The Bayern Munich winger missed out most of the qualifiers due to injury and France really did miss him. Ribery is truly inspiring on the pitch and his being in form will mean good times for France.
Nicolas Anelka :
This is Anelka’s first appearance in World Cup. He is in fine nick and that was what saved France against Ireland. Anelka will have everything to fight for and display his talents and skills on the world arena.
COACH: RAYMOND DOMENECH
Best Footballing Moment
It is not one moment, but two years:1998-2000. The two years that France was on the top of world football with the 1998 World Cup victory and the Euro 2000 victory. No other national team has dominated international football by winning the World Cup and European Championships one after the other.
Expectations from the team
The ardent fans of Les Bleus want and expect the team to win the title. Their expectations got an altogether different dimension after the 3-0 swamping of Brazil in the 1998 World Cup in home soil. It was a final proof that their team could achieve whatever was the target. The 2000 Euro Cup victory added to the euphoria.
Four years ago the nation underwent the agony of losing a World Cup in penalty shoot out. That too after their captain and hope, the mighty Zinedine Zidan was red carded. The set-back, instead of cooling the emotions, has only further fuelled the imagination of the supporters: they root louder for their team and hope to achieve the top most honour despite the presence of the coach Raymond Domenech.
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