EURO 2016 Previews - France
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:57 pmWith a deep squad, a home advantage, and a recent countrywide disaster that has by all account helped unify a frequently fractious squad , the stage is already set for the French to win a major trophy on home turf yet again. There is not a lot of excuse that can be given by Deschamps if in July they do not win, all the elements are present for having the best chance, it is just a question of maturity and how they handle the pressure.
In recent tournaments the French have suffered from squad fallouts, player mutiny, managers losing control, and players being summoned in front of the President to explain the resultant national embarrassment. And while it’s easy to provide this for a reason for their failures, in truth it serves as a better screen to hide the misgivings in talent that the team have had. After a golden generation, they had a lean patch.
The retirement of Zidane left a huge hole after 2006, one that the French convinced themselves would be filled by Yohan Gourcuff. Domenech built a team around Gourcuff in 2008 and in South Africa in 2010, but Gourcuff was not only nowhere near Zidane’s quality, and subsequently proved to be unworthy of even his starting place in France’s domestic league since. Domenech’s era was full of erratic decisions, guided by his belief in Astrology and superstition. It was hardly a surprise that such a joker in the deck leading one of the proudest nations on Earth resulted in such a chaotic off pitch environment. While it’s easy to criticise the players, its just as easy to sympathise with their situation. The only real surprise was Domenech was picked and lasted that long in the first place.
The lack of real quality led to the downfall of 2012, where Spain professionally dispatched them in the round of 8. And while 2014 was promising, Germany knocked them out with the certain ease and superiority that usually is displayed in your average Floyd Mayweather boxing bout; you're never disgraced, but also never in the same league of capability. It was a little easy for Germany.
France’s football fortunes often changes with a swiftness other teams fail to manage, and sure enough in the last two years the stock and depth of French talent is once again at impressive levels. There have emerged several top players that mix with existing players in the squad over recent years, and once again they are a force to be reckoned with. Les Bleus have a new golden generation entering the football world, one that is arguably more scary that their last.
Dechamps is blessed with depth, and with standout quality in the front line up. Deschamps has often stated he wants a team based around a system that works, and for that he has the constituent elements. The tactic of choice is the 4-3-3/4-5-1 flexible system. There is a mix of power, of creativity, of pace. The French really to have it all, and in multiple levels.
The main core of the team talent is in the midfield, and the talent blends perfectly. Pogba is the powerful central figure, capable of driving forward the attack with ball at feet or dropping to tuck in alongside his midfield colleagues with equal aplomb if needed. Cabeye is the delicate passer there to make the system tick. He can kill teams when on form with his passing, and unlike many deeplying creative midfielders he has a physical presence without the ball. The central anchor man role has Kante or Matuidi, both coming of respective career defining seasons, both who hunt the ball down like a vampire chasing blood. With the ball, they can destroy you, without it they can frustrate and hassle.
Behind them is a world class keeper in Lloris, and a multi-talented back line. Varane and Koscielny form a solid partnership, and the often marauding Mathieu and Sagna often dynamism going forward, and reliability in defence. There is other quality in depth.
If France had a weakness, it is in the traditional “number 9” role. Benzema will not play after the infamous “sex tape” drama, leaving France without their top striker. Giroud has been off form all 2016 (1 goal in 19 games), leaving a slight headache for Deschamps. But for the wing/inside forward role, there is an embarrassment of riches. Griezmann is a contender for European player of the year, the young and ultra-quick Coman has lit up the German league this year, Martial has given recent glimpses of huge talent, and Payet has been one of the top players in the EPL. Which of the four start is probably a bigger, much more palatable headache for Deschamps.
With Romania, Albania and Switzerland in the group stages, France have a perfect platform to shake off the rust and nerves of the early tournament and make a statement before the knockout rounds. For me, they are the team to beat, arguably even without the home advantage. Its going to take a huge effort to knock them out.
There is attacking threat, goals, work-rate, energy, physicality, aerial ability, discipline and creative genius laced in this team. Given the ages of some of these stars, this might be the first of multiple international honours coming to this team in the next few years.
Prediction – Winners.
In recent tournaments the French have suffered from squad fallouts, player mutiny, managers losing control, and players being summoned in front of the President to explain the resultant national embarrassment. And while it’s easy to provide this for a reason for their failures, in truth it serves as a better screen to hide the misgivings in talent that the team have had. After a golden generation, they had a lean patch.
The retirement of Zidane left a huge hole after 2006, one that the French convinced themselves would be filled by Yohan Gourcuff. Domenech built a team around Gourcuff in 2008 and in South Africa in 2010, but Gourcuff was not only nowhere near Zidane’s quality, and subsequently proved to be unworthy of even his starting place in France’s domestic league since. Domenech’s era was full of erratic decisions, guided by his belief in Astrology and superstition. It was hardly a surprise that such a joker in the deck leading one of the proudest nations on Earth resulted in such a chaotic off pitch environment. While it’s easy to criticise the players, its just as easy to sympathise with their situation. The only real surprise was Domenech was picked and lasted that long in the first place.
The lack of real quality led to the downfall of 2012, where Spain professionally dispatched them in the round of 8. And while 2014 was promising, Germany knocked them out with the certain ease and superiority that usually is displayed in your average Floyd Mayweather boxing bout; you're never disgraced, but also never in the same league of capability. It was a little easy for Germany.
France’s football fortunes often changes with a swiftness other teams fail to manage, and sure enough in the last two years the stock and depth of French talent is once again at impressive levels. There have emerged several top players that mix with existing players in the squad over recent years, and once again they are a force to be reckoned with. Les Bleus have a new golden generation entering the football world, one that is arguably more scary that their last.
Dechamps is blessed with depth, and with standout quality in the front line up. Deschamps has often stated he wants a team based around a system that works, and for that he has the constituent elements. The tactic of choice is the 4-3-3/4-5-1 flexible system. There is a mix of power, of creativity, of pace. The French really to have it all, and in multiple levels.
The main core of the team talent is in the midfield, and the talent blends perfectly. Pogba is the powerful central figure, capable of driving forward the attack with ball at feet or dropping to tuck in alongside his midfield colleagues with equal aplomb if needed. Cabeye is the delicate passer there to make the system tick. He can kill teams when on form with his passing, and unlike many deeplying creative midfielders he has a physical presence without the ball. The central anchor man role has Kante or Matuidi, both coming of respective career defining seasons, both who hunt the ball down like a vampire chasing blood. With the ball, they can destroy you, without it they can frustrate and hassle.
Behind them is a world class keeper in Lloris, and a multi-talented back line. Varane and Koscielny form a solid partnership, and the often marauding Mathieu and Sagna often dynamism going forward, and reliability in defence. There is other quality in depth.
If France had a weakness, it is in the traditional “number 9” role. Benzema will not play after the infamous “sex tape” drama, leaving France without their top striker. Giroud has been off form all 2016 (1 goal in 19 games), leaving a slight headache for Deschamps. But for the wing/inside forward role, there is an embarrassment of riches. Griezmann is a contender for European player of the year, the young and ultra-quick Coman has lit up the German league this year, Martial has given recent glimpses of huge talent, and Payet has been one of the top players in the EPL. Which of the four start is probably a bigger, much more palatable headache for Deschamps.
With Romania, Albania and Switzerland in the group stages, France have a perfect platform to shake off the rust and nerves of the early tournament and make a statement before the knockout rounds. For me, they are the team to beat, arguably even without the home advantage. Its going to take a huge effort to knock them out.
There is attacking threat, goals, work-rate, energy, physicality, aerial ability, discipline and creative genius laced in this team. Given the ages of some of these stars, this might be the first of multiple international honours coming to this team in the next few years.
Prediction – Winners.
