World Cup Team Guide: France

France / Dave Farrar / 12 May 2010 / 5 Comments Free £25 Bet

France are unlikely to give you a good run for your money under Domenech

It's a classic case of France potentially winning the World Cup in spite of their coach rather than because of him, such is the abysmal reputation that Raymond Domenech has these days. But they do have super players in their squad so you never know....

"hatever people may try to tell you about the post Zizou days, France have some wonderful players, but their biggest problem would seem to be a coach who is one of the most self-satisfied and self-regarding men in the world of football."

France are extremely lucky to be at this World Cup, but I still maintain that they're not as fortunate as Irish fans would have you believe. They were awful at the start of their Group 7 qualifying campaign, losing in Austria. Two draws against Romania did them no favours, but they actually showed a great deal of steel to get through to the play off while playing somewhere off their peak, and all there is to say about that decider is that, yes, it was handball, but the tie was level at that point and there was every chance that France would have won it anyway. Get over it.

I'd rather watch Yoann Gourcuff than Robbie Keane anyday. Whatever people may try to tell you about the post Zizou days, France have some wonderful players, but their biggest problem would seem to be a coach who is one of the most self-satisfied and self-regarding men in the world of football.

I used to be a supporter of Raymond Domenech, as coaching France, a country of talented players but largely clueless fans, is a terribly difficult job. I'll never forgive the vitriol that rained down on Aime Jacquet from a bourgeois and lazy media before World Cup 98 and used to think that Domenech was the victim of something similar, but he's not. He's an empty circus act who thinks that it's all about him, and he is ruining the international chances of what should have been a brilliant generation. If Laurent Blanc was in charge, then I'd be backing France at a stupid price (currently [21.0]) but with Domenech they're to be swerved, unless there's a wholesale mid tournament player revolt.

COACH: Raymond DOMENECH

In the main, see above, but to sum Domenech up: "You always lose when your opponents score and you don't". He is the Graham Taylor of the new millennium and he's France's biggest handicap.

KEY PLAYERS

Hugo Lloris

The Lyon goalkeeper has been outstanding in their Champions League campaign, and the days when French fans would wonder at the name of Fabien Barthez' s long term successor are long gone. One of an outstanding crop of young French keepers, Lloris has established himself ahead of Steve Mandanda as the top man. He needs to have a big tournament, though, and he is prone to the odd error. He must be pitch perfect in South Africa for France to have any chance of grabbing a second World Cup.

Yoann Gourcuff

The French have been waiting for Zinedine Zidane's successor since the bow-legged maestro hung up his boots, and, in the rapidly maturing Gourcuff, they may just have found him. Yes, his form has suffered along with that of Bordeaux this season, but the lack of end of season pressure may just mean that Gourcuff is fresh for the World Cup. One potential factor which could yet hamper Gourcuff is where his coach elects to play him, but if he gets anything approaching a Zidane style free role, then he could be brilliant.

Jeremy Toulalan

The absence of Lassana Diarra from Raymond Domenech's plans means that there's even more pressure on Lyon's Jeremy Toulalan in the centre of midfield. I feel that the role of the Makalele style holding midfielder can be grossly overstated, but in the French system Toulalan is the man who must hold a rickety midfield together, and use his smooth passing to link defence and attack. Without Diarra's energy beside him, it will be difficult for Toulalan, and he's not the player who can win France the World Cup, but if he doesn't perform well, their chances of pulling off an unlikely victory will be greatly reduced.

Recommended Bet: Lay France to win Group A @ [2.2]

Tags: France players, Franck Ribert, French football squad, French footballers, Lassana Diarra, Raymond Domenech, Thierry Henry, World Cup players