Euro 2008 winner candidate: France
Table of Contents
FIFA Ranking (as of May 2008): 7
Schedule:
09/06/2008 v Romania
13/06/2008 v Netherlands
17/06/2008 v Italy
France are entering this year European Champiosnhip as one of the favoured sides.
There is some good reason why they are always become favorites in every major tournament.
With strong stability and determination, combined with talents and tactical team system, Euro 2008 should see the best from France.
The history of Les Bleus symbolized by two great players in two eras.
The first one is when three-time European Footballer of the Year Michel Platini inspired his team-mates to win their first major international tournament with the European Championships of 1984.
The other one represented by one of the greatest players in the 20th century Zinedine Zidane.
He was the hero in 1998 when France lifted the FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 win over Brazil on home soil.
Then two years later, Zidane once again inspired the team to confirm their status as the first great international side of the 21st century with a golden goal victory over Italy in the Euro 2000 Final.
Their head coach Raymond Domenech is an outspoken and controversial figure. He dropped out such a high-profile stars such as Robert Pirès, Philippe Mexès, Djibril Cissé and David Trezeguet.
The excluded of Trezeguet is a brave decision by Domenech as the 31-year-old Juventus striker is a regular scorer for the French national team.
Don't forget to mention that he scored 20 goals in Serie A this season, behind this year capocannonieri and his Juventus team-mate Alessandro Del Piero.
Franck Ribéry, who has been regarded as the best player for France in the last two years, will be the man to see most of the ball in the offensive areas.
After a great debut season with Bayern Munich, Domenech will look on him as his trump card.
Also keep an eye out on the upcoming Arsenal player Samir Nasri.
He has been dubbed as The New Zidane. No wonder if we will highlight this year tournament, just like what Ribéry did in 2006 FIFA World Cup when Domenech introduced him immediately before the World Cup.
This year Euro will be the first blast for the much heralded "Generation '88." Players like Nasri and Karim Benzema are get into their first major international tournaments.
These prodigies have to show their talents in a big stage, and big pressure as well. Hopefully they won't end like Diego Maradona in 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Les Bleus need to start the tournament strongly because some of their players not at their best.
Thierry Henry is one of those players after struggling to adapt at his new club in Barcelona.
But if France on top of their game, and Domenech don't make any stupid decision, no question that they have the team to beat anyone in this competition.
French Squad
Goalkeepers: Grégory Coupet (Lyon), Sébastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), François Clerc (Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona), Sébastien Squillaci (Lyon)
Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Sidney Govou (Lyon)
Related links:
Team
Also see:
Schedule:
09/06/2008 v Romania
13/06/2008 v Netherlands
17/06/2008 v Italy
France are entering this year European Champiosnhip as one of the favoured sides.
There is some good reason why they are always become favorites in every major tournament.
With strong stability and determination, combined with talents and tactical team system, Euro 2008 should see the best from France.
The history of Les Bleus symbolized by two great players in two eras.
The first one is when three-time European Footballer of the Year Michel Platini inspired his team-mates to win their first major international tournament with the European Championships of 1984.
The other one represented by one of the greatest players in the 20th century Zinedine Zidane.
He was the hero in 1998 when France lifted the FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 win over Brazil on home soil.
Then two years later, Zidane once again inspired the team to confirm their status as the first great international side of the 21st century with a golden goal victory over Italy in the Euro 2000 Final.
Their head coach Raymond Domenech is an outspoken and controversial figure. He dropped out such a high-profile stars such as Robert Pirès, Philippe Mexès, Djibril Cissé and David Trezeguet.
The excluded of Trezeguet is a brave decision by Domenech as the 31-year-old Juventus striker is a regular scorer for the French national team.
Don't forget to mention that he scored 20 goals in Serie A this season, behind this year capocannonieri and his Juventus team-mate Alessandro Del Piero.
Franck Ribéry, who has been regarded as the best player for France in the last two years, will be the man to see most of the ball in the offensive areas.
After a great debut season with Bayern Munich, Domenech will look on him as his trump card.
Also keep an eye out on the upcoming Arsenal player Samir Nasri.
He has been dubbed as The New Zidane. No wonder if we will highlight this year tournament, just like what Ribéry did in 2006 FIFA World Cup when Domenech introduced him immediately before the World Cup.
This year Euro will be the first blast for the much heralded "Generation '88." Players like Nasri and Karim Benzema are get into their first major international tournaments.
These prodigies have to show their talents in a big stage, and big pressure as well. Hopefully they won't end like Diego Maradona in 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Les Bleus need to start the tournament strongly because some of their players not at their best.
Thierry Henry is one of those players after struggling to adapt at his new club in Barcelona.
But if France on top of their game, and Domenech don't make any stupid decision, no question that they have the team to beat anyone in this competition.
French Squad
Goalkeepers: Grégory Coupet (Lyon), Sébastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), François Clerc (Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona), Sébastien Squillaci (Lyon)
Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Sidney Govou (Lyon)
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