Post by Salem6 on May 27, 2004 12:13:00 GMT
Henry…Vieira…Zidane…Pires…etc! Don't even think about it Sven - just hope and pray!
By Brian Beard
French coach Jacques Santini. (©GettyImages)
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Quite easily actually, France won all eight of their qualifiers and completed only the third perfect record in a qualifying tournament for a European championships. In fact only Cyprus and Slovenia scored against the holders of the trophy as France conceded just two goals in reaching the finals in Portugal with 29 goals scored and a massive ten-point advantage over runners-up Slovenia. For the French players, and coach Roger Lemerre, the style of their saunter through the qualifiers went someway to making amends for their poor showing in the World Cup of 2002, when the holders meekly disappeared from Japan-South Korea without a whimper.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD
France have an outstanding tournament record having won the trophy twice as well as twice being losing semi finalists. The European Championships was the idea of a Frenchman Henri Delaunay and his country reached the last four of the inaugural competition, in 1960, before losing one of the greatest games in tournament history, 5-4, to Yugoslavia. France reached the quarter finals in 1964 and 1968 but failed to qualify for the next three finals then in 1984, masterminded by Michel Platini, they beat Spain to win the European title for the first time. The holders failed to qualify in 1988, and in 1992 they arrived at the finals with a perfect record, thanks mainly to goals from Papin and Cantona but failed to get beyond the group stage. France lost the 1996 semi final in a penalty shoot-out to the Czech Republic and four years later became the first reigning World Champions to win the European Championships by beating Italy in the final.
MEET THE MANAGER
Jacques Santini, as a player, was a member of the all-conquering St Etienne team of the 1970s and first came to coaching prominence when he guided Olympique Lyonnais to their first ever French league title in 2001-2002. That led to his call to the national team and success wasn't long in coming as he guided France to the FIFA Confederations Cup title in 2003. Santini is a coach who takes on board influences from those around him before doing it his way. As a coach he recognises the talented individuals he has at his disposal and displays a trust in that ability, as long as his players follow instructions.
THE KEY PLAYERS
Take your pick. Obviously Thierry Henry, who has already warned England that he has much to make up for after a disappointing 2002 World Cup. Without question the best striker in world football at present with unprecedented football ability, since perhaps Pele. With a football brain to match unparalleled ability, Thierry has the chance to achieve immortality in this tournament.
As if it wasn't enough to have the best striker in the world France also the world Footballer of the Year Zinedine Zidane as back-up! Equally at home in midfield or in the final third Zizou is really a top man and worth watching for any football fan, even if you are English. Hopefully he will have a poor game against England, please. Zidane can turn a game with a defence splitting pass or a goal.
If Robert Pires can produce anything like the form he was in as Arsenal swept to the Premier League title then the world of football is in for a treat. Not a typical winger, in the 'hit the line and cross to the far post' kind of way, but Pires can operate on either flank as well as being a potent force right through the heart of any team.
GIVEMEFOOTBALL VERDICT: HOW WILL THEY FARE
I cannot see any team stopping them. Maybe the only weakness, and it's a relative concept, is in the heart of the defence and in goal. If a team can attack them in that area they may have a chance but I still think they will win the tournament.
www.givemefootball.com/display.cfm?article=4451&type=1
By Brian Beard
French coach Jacques Santini. (©GettyImages)
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Quite easily actually, France won all eight of their qualifiers and completed only the third perfect record in a qualifying tournament for a European championships. In fact only Cyprus and Slovenia scored against the holders of the trophy as France conceded just two goals in reaching the finals in Portugal with 29 goals scored and a massive ten-point advantage over runners-up Slovenia. For the French players, and coach Roger Lemerre, the style of their saunter through the qualifiers went someway to making amends for their poor showing in the World Cup of 2002, when the holders meekly disappeared from Japan-South Korea without a whimper.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD
France have an outstanding tournament record having won the trophy twice as well as twice being losing semi finalists. The European Championships was the idea of a Frenchman Henri Delaunay and his country reached the last four of the inaugural competition, in 1960, before losing one of the greatest games in tournament history, 5-4, to Yugoslavia. France reached the quarter finals in 1964 and 1968 but failed to qualify for the next three finals then in 1984, masterminded by Michel Platini, they beat Spain to win the European title for the first time. The holders failed to qualify in 1988, and in 1992 they arrived at the finals with a perfect record, thanks mainly to goals from Papin and Cantona but failed to get beyond the group stage. France lost the 1996 semi final in a penalty shoot-out to the Czech Republic and four years later became the first reigning World Champions to win the European Championships by beating Italy in the final.
MEET THE MANAGER
Jacques Santini, as a player, was a member of the all-conquering St Etienne team of the 1970s and first came to coaching prominence when he guided Olympique Lyonnais to their first ever French league title in 2001-2002. That led to his call to the national team and success wasn't long in coming as he guided France to the FIFA Confederations Cup title in 2003. Santini is a coach who takes on board influences from those around him before doing it his way. As a coach he recognises the talented individuals he has at his disposal and displays a trust in that ability, as long as his players follow instructions.
THE KEY PLAYERS
Take your pick. Obviously Thierry Henry, who has already warned England that he has much to make up for after a disappointing 2002 World Cup. Without question the best striker in world football at present with unprecedented football ability, since perhaps Pele. With a football brain to match unparalleled ability, Thierry has the chance to achieve immortality in this tournament.
As if it wasn't enough to have the best striker in the world France also the world Footballer of the Year Zinedine Zidane as back-up! Equally at home in midfield or in the final third Zizou is really a top man and worth watching for any football fan, even if you are English. Hopefully he will have a poor game against England, please. Zidane can turn a game with a defence splitting pass or a goal.
If Robert Pires can produce anything like the form he was in as Arsenal swept to the Premier League title then the world of football is in for a treat. Not a typical winger, in the 'hit the line and cross to the far post' kind of way, but Pires can operate on either flank as well as being a potent force right through the heart of any team.
GIVEMEFOOTBALL VERDICT: HOW WILL THEY FARE
I cannot see any team stopping them. Maybe the only weakness, and it's a relative concept, is in the heart of the defence and in goal. If a team can attack them in that area they may have a chance but I still think they will win the tournament.
www.givemefootball.com/display.cfm?article=4451&type=1