Nations / Dave Farrar / 30 May 2008 / Leave a comment

In the last decade, performances by French sides at major championships speak for themselves. But there is a definite changing of the guard in the air, and coach Raymond Domenech is presented with the choice between new and old.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED

France's qualifying campaign was an impressive one, but for one huge Achilles heel in the shape of Scotland. If France had beaten the Scots twice, or even taken four points from the two fixtures, they'd have won the group. The fact that they didn't made things considerably harder. They dispatched the minnows in the group easily, they took four points from Italy, and they only drew in the Ukraine because it was a final, irrelevant match, and their goalkeeper Sebastien Frey had a nightmare on his debut. Their form against Scotland may make you fear for them against the Group C minnows Romania, but sometimes the most unlikely styles of play disturb even the best teams, and if you forgive France two mcnightmares, then theirs was the most impressive qualifying campaign of all.

COACH: Raymond DOMENECH

If Slaven Bilic is the brooding handsome leading man, then Raymond Domenech, a lover of the stage, would have to be his slightly overeager understudy. Domenech has played rather too obvious games with the French media, much though they deserve it, and despite reaching a World Cup final, he has yet to win over a suspicious public. Domenech is no fool, though, and, as well as recognising and encouraging young talent like Benzema, Ben Arfa, and both Diarras, he has persuaded Claude Makelele to prolong an international career that seemed to be over. He needs to make the right decisions, and must avoid the temptation to be like a child in a sweetshop with regard to selection. If he confidently picks his strongest team, and sticks with it, then he can win his first big title, and get all of the attention that he craves.

KEY PLAYERS

Karim BENZEMA

One of the best two young European footballers of the moment, and, after Bojan's decision to stay at home this summer, the young player of Euro 2008 by a country mile. Benzema has it all. Pace, power, goals from long range, from close in, and more creative than the average striker. If he resembles anyone, it is Wayne Rooney, but his bigger frame means that he is more able to play as an out and out forward, rather than drop into the hole that Rooney likes so much. 2007/08 was his breakthrough season with Lyon, and his 20 goals made him top scorer in Ligue 1. He looked tired in Lyon's French Cup final win over PSG in late May, but still managed to create the extra-time winner. A live contender at a big price for tournament top scorer.

Franck RIBERY

Many were surprised when a player coveted by so many of Europe's top clubs chose to go to Bayern Munich last summer, but it has proved to be an inspired move by both parties. Ribery has been in sparkling form, and, if he brings that to Euro 2008, and if France win, then he still has an outside chance of being named Ballon D'Or at the end of the year. He will start on the right, but will drift and try to use his devastating pace and eye for a pass to break down the opposition. A different type of player to Zinedine Zidane, but, like the great man, he will be the key to how France perform. He scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga last season, an impressive total for a wide player, and he already has experience of major tournament pressure, after playing so well in the last World Cup.

Claude MAKELELE

Makelele is a conservative choice as a key player, and I'm a huge fan of his more than capable understudy Jeremy Toulalan, but I thought that the holding midfielder was the man of the match in the Champions League final, and more unlucky than anyone to end up on the losing side. Domenech insists that Makelele and Vieira will still be his midfield, and, given Vieira's patchy form this season, Makelele's role becomes yet more important. If he and Vieira can provide a platform for France's talented young players, then they have a major chance of winning a third European Championship.

VERDICT

France are hard to assess because they have a fabulous group of players and a far from confidence breeding coach. The suspicion remains that they reached the World Cup Final despite Raymond Domenech, and I'll be interested to see the personnel that he chooses to start with, particularly in attacking areas. It has to be Benzema and Henry/Anelka, I fear that it will be Henry AND Anelka with the young Lyon star on the bench. And there are old player/young player choices all over the pitch, in which Domenech seems set to favour experience. Vieira not Toulalan or Diarra. Sagnol not Sagna. Even considering all of that, I still think that the French players are good enough and hungry enough to sort themselves out, and must be value to win the tournament at [9.8], and to win Group C at [3.15].

Tags: Euro 2008 Betting, Football Betting, France, Group C Betting