If Spain and Holland are rated as the fancied European teams for the championship in Brazil World Cup 2014, highly talented France cannot also be just written off.
France was one the fancied team in World Cup 2010. But the soccer world witnessed a major debacle as France performed like a very ordinary team at the group without scoring a single goal. The unexpected abysmal performance sparked by a spat between the coach Raymond Domenech and Star player Nicolas Alenka. France was disgraced in failing to advance beyond the first round. Eventually coach was removed and former world cup winner Laurent Blanc took over. His task was well cut out. Blanc had to work a lot in mending the sagging morale of the team. His first challenge was to qualify for the business session of Euro 2012. France returned to winning streak.
However the 17 match unbeaten run of France was served a cruel blow by the world champion Spain in the quarter final of Euro 2012. Star striker Karim Benzama failed to prove his potential in Euro. The gamble Blanc did with 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 & 4-5-1 magic tactical formula required creative striker to find the range with precision.
New coach Didier Deschamps took over. His immediate challenge was to pull France out of a very tight spot in the Brazil World Cup qualifier round. France had to lock horns against Ukraine in the play off. His style is very simple play to win, style or artistic football matters little if ultimately these cannot bring wins. However, ultra defensive strategy against Ukraine cost France the match losing 0-2 in the process. France required something extra ordinary in home match to overhaul deficit and move on. The coach brought in major changes. In came Mamadou Sakho and Raphael Varani in the deep defense, Yuhan Cabaye in the midfield, Mathieu Valbuena in the wings and Karim Benzama as striker. His new charge paid back his faith in their youthful creative ability in reversing the tide winning 3-0 against Ukraine. France qualified for World Cup 2014 but only just.
France has depth and adaptability in the team which not many of the teams of World Cup 2014 can be proud of. Phillipe Mexes and Adil Rami combined sweetly with Sakho and Varane. Arsenal mates Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny also getting settled in the team. Patrice Evra, Cabaye and Frank Ribery can make France team a hard nut to crack in testing circumstances. This team will be boosted with the injection of quality players like Paul Pogba, Benzama, Blaize Matuidi and Loic Remy. France will have two outstanding players in Blanc d’or nominee and Bayern Munich Superstar Ribery. The other is Pogba the explosive midfielder who can be the X-factor for France.
France can consider them a bit lucky being drawn in a relatively easy first round with Honduras, Switzerland and Ecuador. France not only requires qualifying but also it has to finish on top of the group to avoid playing fancied Argentina in the group of 16. Honduras and Ecuador may be softer opponents. France has to play attacking brand of football against them ensuring that they do not drop any point. Switzerland may prove a difficult team to get over. Then in the quarter, European giants Portugal or Germany will wait for them. That is way too far to plan ahead. For the time being France needs to adapt quick and then move on.
Can Les Blues really shine at Brazil? Can one emulate the blue magic of Zinadine Zidan of 1998?
BDST: 1136 HRS, MAY 13, 2014
