World Cup 2010 Team Spotlight – France
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The WORLD CUP FINALS had their final draw on Dec 4th, 2009. 32 teams were picked out of their respective pots and we now know the matchups for World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Need predictions for France?
Our analysis indicates nobody will underestimate a French side that has veteran, emerging and world-class talent through the spine of the team.
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World Cup controversy is nothing new to France and the now infamous Thierry Henry handball during their two-match World Cup qualifier playoff against Ireland in November is no exception. France were given the number one seed in the group with their draw in that match, and will now have to back up their chance to get back to the World Cup final once again.
Group A: France, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay
France – FIFA Ranking: 7
France Odds to win World Cup: +1600
Matchups:
June 11 vs. Uruguay
June 17 vs. Mexico
June 22 vs. South Africa
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Les Bleus did not score a lot of goals in qualifying, but did play stingy defense. France made a poor start to UEFA Group 7, losing the opening game 3-1 to Austria, and eventually finished in second place, one point behind Serbia. It took an extra-time goal in their play-off with Ireland to give them a 2-1 aggregate win to finally send them through.
Boss Raymond ” Dom Dom” Domenech, is possibly the least popular coach in international football right now due in part to his antics of the pitch, and he insistence on playing two defensive midfielders and only one striker on a squad that is stacked with up front punch.
With all of this swirling around the team as they head into the 2010 World Cup, France still remains a very talented and favored team. Three top form strikers lead the club. Captain Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, and Real Madrid youngster Karim Benzema.
They are supported nicely in the midfield by Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff, left winger Florent Malouda of Chelsea fame, and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery, who’s arguably the most talented of all France’s attacking options. Finally veteran defender William Gallas leads the back.
Les Bleus have appeared in 12 final tournaments, winning on home soil in 1998. They have also managed third-place finishes in 1958 and 1986, as well as fourth spot in 1982.
The doubters will focus on the team’s troubles in securing there seed, while supporters will remember that France also barley made the field before finishing runner-up in the 2006 World Cup in Germany in what has become infamous for the Zinadine Zidane head butt near the end of the match.
They will start out in a winnable group A and should be the favorites to finish first. They will have to play smart for a win in their first match against Uruguay, and will need a least a draw against Mexico.
That combination alone should get them through with their last game being against a weaker South Africa.
I expect to see France in the quarterfinals and depending on whom they draw, a possible semi-finals appearance may be in order.
Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
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Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. “ Football (soccer) is a game in which a handful of fit men run around for one and a half hours watched by millions of people who could really use the exercise.”
