FRANCE SQUAD FOR EURO 2008 IN AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND
Road to Austria and Switzerland 2008:
France, European Championship winners in 2000, lost twice to lowly Scotland in qualifying Group B, yet advanced after finishing runners-up to World Cup winners Italy. The French ended with 26 points to Italy’s 29, but had a more impressive goal difference – they hit 25 goals in 12 qualifiers and conceded only five.
France kicked off their campaign on September 2, 2006 with a 3-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi. Raymond Domenech’s team then followed that up four days later with a morale-boosting victory over recently-crowned World Champions Italy. At the Stade de France in Paris a brace from Sidney Govou and a Thierry Henry strike cancelled out Alberto Gilardino’s goal. The 3-1 win went some way to avenge France’s defeat to Italy in Germany 2006’s final, when favourite son Zinédine Zidane was dismissed for head-butting defender Marco Materazzi and they lost 5-3 on penalties.
France then stumbled away to Scotland on October 7, losing 1-0 thanks to Gary Caudwell’s goal with 23 minutes remaining. Domenech’s side achieved wins against Faroe Islands (5-0), Lithuania (1-0), Ukraine (2-0) and Georgia again, before drawing against Italy in Rome.
Then, in September 2007, Scotland did the double on France. The shock 1-0 result at the Stade de France was thanks to James McFadden’s 64th minute screamer. France completed qualifying with victories over Faroe Islands (6-0) and Lithuania (2-0), and a 2-2 drew away to Ukraine.
Defender Lilian Thuram, the oldest player in Domenech’s squad (36), was the only man to play all 1080 minutes in qualifying. Thuram’s Barcelona team-mate Henry was France’s leading scorer – he netted six times in eighth appearances. Domenech used 31 players in all, including a number of youngsters.
Attacking midfielder Samir Nasri, 21, and 20-year-old Karim Benzema, in particular, announced their international arrival with impressive performances and goals in Euro 2008 qualifying.
The French last won the European Championship in 2000 when David Trezeguet’s golden goal earned them a 2-1 victory and the trophy. The only other time Les Blues have won the European Championship was in 1984 when, inspired by tournament top-scorer Michel Platini (nine goals), they defeated Spain 2-0 in the final at the Parc des Princes.
Coach:
Raymond Domenech
The 56-year-old of Spanish-Catalan descent (his father fled Franco’s Spain) took over from Jacques Santini as France coach after the poor showing at Euro 2004. An international defender (eight caps), Domenech starred for home-club Lyon and also played for Bordeaux, Paris Saint Germain and Stasbourg before turning his hand to coaching.
After four years in charge of Lyon, Domenech was appointed France U-21 coach in 1993 – a position he kept until replacing Santini. With superb knowledge of France’s young talent, Domenech successfully fused youth and experience to take Les Bleus to the World Cup Final in Germany 2006.
Initially derided for being a keen astrologer and amateur dramatist, he proved his doubters wrong and was unlucky to lose to Italy. Importantly he had convinced Lilian Thuram, Zinédine Zidane and Claude Makélélé to come out of international retirement.
Goalkeepers:
Grégory Coupet
The Lyon goalkeeper, Coupet, is finally regarded as the France No1, having had to bench for Fabien Barthez for years. Now 36, he made his international bow in 2001 on the way to France’s Confederations Cup win. He missed four months and six Euro 2008 qualifiers though a freak training-ground injury.
Mickaël Landreau
Paris Saint-Germain stopper Landreau will begin Euro 2008 behind Grégory Coupet in the pecking order, though the 28-year-old is a reliable backup. After 13 years at childhood club Nantes, where he skippered, Landreau moved to the Parisian club in 2006. He is renowned for his reflexes and excels in penalty shootouts.
Steve Mandanda
Capped for France at U-21 and B-team level but not yet a full international, goalkeeper Mandanda is one for the future. Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, he was on the books of AFC Le Harve until March this year when he signed a four-year deal with Marseille. Has three younger brothers who are all competent ‘keepers.
Defenders:
Éric Adibal
Adibal signed for Barcelona from Lyon last summer for €15m. After making his international debut in 2004, the 28-year-old flying left-back of Martiniquean descent, played every minute of France’s 2006 World Cup bar the Togo game for which he was suspended. He also played all but one of the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
François Clerc
Right-back Clerc played four of France’s 12 Euro 2008 qualifiers and could yet receive the nod for a starting place over Bayern Munich’s Willy Sagnol and Arsenal’s Bacary Sangna. The 25-year-old Lyon defender is not averse to pushing further forward, though he has only scored one goal in his professional career.
Julien Escudé
Brother of tennis player Nicolas Escudé, centre back Julien moved to Sevilla in January 2006. That October he gained his first cap for Les Bleus but is unlikely to play much of a part in Austria and Switzerland. The 28-year-old, who featured in three Euro 2008 qualifiers, has also played at Ajax and Rennes.
Patrice Evra
Manchester United’s left-back, Evra, played once for Raymond Domenech’s team in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, with Éric Adibal being preferred. The quick 26-year-old, born in Dakar, Senegal, moved to Manchester in 2006 for £5.5m after playing 120 games for Monaco. The pious Evra was named in the 2006/7 team Professional Footballers Association XI.
William Gallas
Arsenal captain Gallas is likely to start at centre back for France at Euro 2008, though the 30-year-old has played at full-back in a career that has taken him to Caen, Marseille and Chelsea. Of Guadeloupean descent, Gallas moved to Arsenal in September 2006 as a make-weight for Ashley Cole.
Philippe Mexès
Classy defender Mexès, 26, was unused by Raymond Domenech in qualifying, much to the French media’s disapproval. He now makes up part of the backbone of Roma, where the former Auxerre man has starred for four years. Mexès has been linked with moves to AC Milan and Real Madrid after a successful 2007/8.
Bacary Sanga
After moving from Auxerre last July Arsenal right-back Sanga has impressed in his first season in the Premier League, and won his first international cap in August 2007 against Slovakia. The 25-year-old is likely to be overlooked by coach Raymond Domenech, however, in favour of the more experienced Willy Sagnol.
Willy Sagnol
Right wingback Sagnol, 31, has been playing for Bayern Munich for eight seasons and also made his international debut in 2000. He has over 50 caps to his name and played five times in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. The Former Monaco man won the Champions League in 2001 and has won the Bundesliga five times.
Lilian Thuram
Euro 2000 and World Cup 1998 winner Thuram made his international bow 14 years ago and has been one of Europe’s most heralded footballers for the last decade after impressing at Monaco, Parma, Juventus and now Barcelona. The 36-year-old was born in Guadalupe and is the only French ever-present in qualifying.
Midfielders:
Hatem Ben Arfa
Left winger Ben Arfa, one of the most coveted young talents in Europe, has come through the ranks at French champions Lyon. Ben Arfa, 21, snubbed a place with the Turkish World Cup squad in 2006 and began his career as a centre forward under Gérard Houllier.
Lassana Diarra
Portsmouth’s central midfielder Diarra was deemed too small and lightweight to succeed at Nantes. But now the 5’ 9” 23-year-old of Malian descent has played at Le Harve, Chelsea and Arsenal, and is highly rated by French coach Raymond Domenech. Made his debut in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania in March 2007.
Mathieu Flamini
Hardworking defensive midfielder Flamini trained as a lawyer and signed from Arsenal from his trainee club Marseille in 2004. Though the 24-year-old proved his versatility in his first three seasons at the London club, Flamini cemented his place in the Arsenal team in 2007/8. Gained first international cap in November 2007 against Morocco.
Claude Makélélé
The diminutive Zaire-born Makélélé was convinced by Raymond Domenech to come out of international retirement for Germany 2006. The 35-year-old has starred for Nantes, Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea in a position in front of the defence which has become eponymous: the Makélélé role. Yet to score for Les Bleus.
Florent Malouda
Former Lyon left winger Malouda moved to Chelsea in July 2007 for £13.5m after being named Ligue 1 player of the season. Malouda, who turns 28 during the tournament, was felled against Italy in the Germany World Cup Final in the box – a penalty that was converted by Zinédine Zidane.
Samir Nasri
Hailed as the ‘new Zinédine Zidane’ because of his upbringing and Algerian roots, Nasri, who enjoys his 21st birthday during Euro 2008, is the future of France. The flamboyant attacking midfielder made his Marseille debut when he was only 17 and has already scored twice for his country – his first was the winner against Georgia in June 2007.
Franck Ribéry
Highly-rated attacker Ribéry, who starred for France at Germany 2006, signed for German Champions Bayern Munich for a club-record €25m in June 2007. The 25-year-old winger or forward was scarred from a car accident when he was two and has played at a total of seven clubs including Galatasaray and Marseille.
Jérôme Rothen
Touted as France’s ‘left-sided David Beckham’ after his performances propelled Monaco to the Champions League Final in 2004, Rothen signed for boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain that summer, after featuring in France’s Euro 2004 quarter-final. Now 30 Rothen is expected to only be a peripheral figure in Switzerland and Austria.
Jérémy Toulalan
Holding midfielder Toulalan was one of the stars of Lyon’s 2007/8 season, having signed from Nantes in 2006, his alma mater. The 24-year-old is lauded by Raymond Domenech and is viewed as Claude Makélélé’s eventual successor in the national team. Is yet to score in 11 games for Les Bleus.
Patrick Vieira
Former Arsenal lynchpin Vieira won his second consecutive Scudetto with Internazionale in 2007/8 (the previous year’s was for Juventus) and the France captain’s form will be vital if his team are to repeat their Euro 2000 success. The 6’4” midfielder, who turns 32 during the tournament, has over 100 caps for his country and was born in Dakar, Senegal.
Forwards:
Nicolas Anelka
Chelsea’s Anelka moved to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer market for £15m, meaning that his six transfers have amassed £85m – the most any player has managed. The clinical striker, 29, is back in favour for Les Bleus after missing out on Germany 2006 and scored four goals in seven Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Karim Benzema
Lyon’s talented forward Benzema, who prefers a central role but can play on either wing, is of Kabyle-Algerian descent. Coveted by Europe’s top clubs, Benzema, 20, put pen to paper on a new deal which ties him to Lyon until 2013, and makes him Ligue 1’s highest-paid player on €4.8m per annum.
Djibril Cissé
Striker Cissé, 26, made his name at Auxerre before moving to Liverpool for a then club record £14m in 2004. After horrendously breaking his leg in a warm up game against China before Germany 2006, many feared Cissé’s career would be doomed. However he has come back into favour with a good season for Marseille.
Sidney Govou
Lyon’ versatile attacker Govou, of Beninese descent, has filled in for Les Bleus on a number of occasions without ever pinning down a place. The 28-year-old was called up to France’s Germany 2006 squad after Djibril Cissé broke his leg, and scored twice in their 2-1 win over Italy in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Thierry Henry
Since moving from Arsenal, where he broke Cliff Bastin’s long-standing goal record, Henry, now 30, has struggled to gain a regular starting place at Barcelona. The former Monaco winger has never been out of favour for Les Bleus, however. In October 2007 he broke Michel Platini’s goalscoring record and now has 44 goals (six in qualifying).
Louis Saha
Manchester United’s 29-year-old striker Saha has had an injury-hit four seasons at Old Trafford since his move from Fulham, where he impressed by scoring 53 goals in Premier League 117 games. The Paris-born player began his career with Metz before being loaned to Newcastle.
David Trezeguet
World Cup 1998 winner Trezeguet will always be lauded by the French after his golden goal in the final of Euro 2000 clinched victory over Italy. The tall, quick forward, 30, had been out of favour under Raymond Domenech, though an impressive goal-scoring 2007/8 in Italy with Juventus brought him back into contention.
Road to Austria and Switzerland 2008:
France, European Championship winners in 2000, lost twice to lowly Scotland in qualifying Group B, yet advanced after finishing runners-up to World Cup winners Italy. The French ended with 26 points to Italy’s 29, but had a more impressive goal difference – they hit 25 goals in 12 qualifiers and conceded only five.
France kicked off their campaign on September 2, 2006 with a 3-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi. Raymond Domenech’s team then followed that up four days later with a morale-boosting victory over recently-crowned World Champions Italy. At the Stade de France in Paris a brace from Sidney Govou and a Thierry Henry strike cancelled out Alberto Gilardino’s goal. The 3-1 win went some way to avenge France’s defeat to Italy in Germany 2006’s final, when favourite son Zinédine Zidane was dismissed for head-butting defender Marco Materazzi and they lost 5-3 on penalties.
France then stumbled away to Scotland on October 7, losing 1-0 thanks to Gary Caudwell’s goal with 23 minutes remaining. Domenech’s side achieved wins against Faroe Islands (5-0), Lithuania (1-0), Ukraine (2-0) and Georgia again, before drawing against Italy in Rome.
Then, in September 2007, Scotland did the double on France. The shock 1-0 result at the Stade de France was thanks to James McFadden’s 64th minute screamer. France completed qualifying with victories over Faroe Islands (6-0) and Lithuania (2-0), and a 2-2 drew away to Ukraine.
Defender Lilian Thuram, the oldest player in Domenech’s squad (36), was the only man to play all 1080 minutes in qualifying. Thuram’s Barcelona team-mate Henry was France’s leading scorer – he netted six times in eighth appearances. Domenech used 31 players in all, including a number of youngsters.
Attacking midfielder Samir Nasri, 21, and 20-year-old Karim Benzema, in particular, announced their international arrival with impressive performances and goals in Euro 2008 qualifying.
The French last won the European Championship in 2000 when David Trezeguet’s golden goal earned them a 2-1 victory and the trophy. The only other time Les Blues have won the European Championship was in 1984 when, inspired by tournament top-scorer Michel Platini (nine goals), they defeated Spain 2-0 in the final at the Parc des Princes.
Coach:
Raymond Domenech
The 56-year-old of Spanish-Catalan descent (his father fled Franco’s Spain) took over from Jacques Santini as France coach after the poor showing at Euro 2004. An international defender (eight caps), Domenech starred for home-club Lyon and also played for Bordeaux, Paris Saint Germain and Stasbourg before turning his hand to coaching.
After four years in charge of Lyon, Domenech was appointed France U-21 coach in 1993 – a position he kept until replacing Santini. With superb knowledge of France’s young talent, Domenech successfully fused youth and experience to take Les Bleus to the World Cup Final in Germany 2006.
Initially derided for being a keen astrologer and amateur dramatist, he proved his doubters wrong and was unlucky to lose to Italy. Importantly he had convinced Lilian Thuram, Zinédine Zidane and Claude Makélélé to come out of international retirement.
Goalkeepers:
Grégory Coupet
The Lyon goalkeeper, Coupet, is finally regarded as the France No1, having had to bench for Fabien Barthez for years. Now 36, he made his international bow in 2001 on the way to France’s Confederations Cup win. He missed four months and six Euro 2008 qualifiers though a freak training-ground injury.
Mickaël Landreau
Paris Saint-Germain stopper Landreau will begin Euro 2008 behind Grégory Coupet in the pecking order, though the 28-year-old is a reliable backup. After 13 years at childhood club Nantes, where he skippered, Landreau moved to the Parisian club in 2006. He is renowned for his reflexes and excels in penalty shootouts.
Steve Mandanda
Capped for France at U-21 and B-team level but not yet a full international, goalkeeper Mandanda is one for the future. Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, he was on the books of AFC Le Harve until March this year when he signed a four-year deal with Marseille. Has three younger brothers who are all competent ‘keepers.
Defenders:
Éric Adibal
Adibal signed for Barcelona from Lyon last summer for €15m. After making his international debut in 2004, the 28-year-old flying left-back of Martiniquean descent, played every minute of France’s 2006 World Cup bar the Togo game for which he was suspended. He also played all but one of the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
François Clerc
Right-back Clerc played four of France’s 12 Euro 2008 qualifiers and could yet receive the nod for a starting place over Bayern Munich’s Willy Sagnol and Arsenal’s Bacary Sangna. The 25-year-old Lyon defender is not averse to pushing further forward, though he has only scored one goal in his professional career.
Julien Escudé
Brother of tennis player Nicolas Escudé, centre back Julien moved to Sevilla in January 2006. That October he gained his first cap for Les Bleus but is unlikely to play much of a part in Austria and Switzerland. The 28-year-old, who featured in three Euro 2008 qualifiers, has also played at Ajax and Rennes.
Patrice Evra
Manchester United’s left-back, Evra, played once for Raymond Domenech’s team in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, with Éric Adibal being preferred. The quick 26-year-old, born in Dakar, Senegal, moved to Manchester in 2006 for £5.5m after playing 120 games for Monaco. The pious Evra was named in the 2006/7 team Professional Footballers Association XI.
William Gallas
Arsenal captain Gallas is likely to start at centre back for France at Euro 2008, though the 30-year-old has played at full-back in a career that has taken him to Caen, Marseille and Chelsea. Of Guadeloupean descent, Gallas moved to Arsenal in September 2006 as a make-weight for Ashley Cole.
Philippe Mexès
Classy defender Mexès, 26, was unused by Raymond Domenech in qualifying, much to the French media’s disapproval. He now makes up part of the backbone of Roma, where the former Auxerre man has starred for four years. Mexès has been linked with moves to AC Milan and Real Madrid after a successful 2007/8.
Bacary Sanga
After moving from Auxerre last July Arsenal right-back Sanga has impressed in his first season in the Premier League, and won his first international cap in August 2007 against Slovakia. The 25-year-old is likely to be overlooked by coach Raymond Domenech, however, in favour of the more experienced Willy Sagnol.
Willy Sagnol
Right wingback Sagnol, 31, has been playing for Bayern Munich for eight seasons and also made his international debut in 2000. He has over 50 caps to his name and played five times in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. The Former Monaco man won the Champions League in 2001 and has won the Bundesliga five times.
Lilian Thuram
Euro 2000 and World Cup 1998 winner Thuram made his international bow 14 years ago and has been one of Europe’s most heralded footballers for the last decade after impressing at Monaco, Parma, Juventus and now Barcelona. The 36-year-old was born in Guadalupe and is the only French ever-present in qualifying.
Midfielders:
Hatem Ben Arfa
Left winger Ben Arfa, one of the most coveted young talents in Europe, has come through the ranks at French champions Lyon. Ben Arfa, 21, snubbed a place with the Turkish World Cup squad in 2006 and began his career as a centre forward under Gérard Houllier.
Lassana Diarra
Portsmouth’s central midfielder Diarra was deemed too small and lightweight to succeed at Nantes. But now the 5’ 9” 23-year-old of Malian descent has played at Le Harve, Chelsea and Arsenal, and is highly rated by French coach Raymond Domenech. Made his debut in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania in March 2007.
Mathieu Flamini
Hardworking defensive midfielder Flamini trained as a lawyer and signed from Arsenal from his trainee club Marseille in 2004. Though the 24-year-old proved his versatility in his first three seasons at the London club, Flamini cemented his place in the Arsenal team in 2007/8. Gained first international cap in November 2007 against Morocco.
Claude Makélélé
The diminutive Zaire-born Makélélé was convinced by Raymond Domenech to come out of international retirement for Germany 2006. The 35-year-old has starred for Nantes, Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea in a position in front of the defence which has become eponymous: the Makélélé role. Yet to score for Les Bleus.
Florent Malouda
Former Lyon left winger Malouda moved to Chelsea in July 2007 for £13.5m after being named Ligue 1 player of the season. Malouda, who turns 28 during the tournament, was felled against Italy in the Germany World Cup Final in the box – a penalty that was converted by Zinédine Zidane.
Samir Nasri
Hailed as the ‘new Zinédine Zidane’ because of his upbringing and Algerian roots, Nasri, who enjoys his 21st birthday during Euro 2008, is the future of France. The flamboyant attacking midfielder made his Marseille debut when he was only 17 and has already scored twice for his country – his first was the winner against Georgia in June 2007.
Franck Ribéry
Highly-rated attacker Ribéry, who starred for France at Germany 2006, signed for German Champions Bayern Munich for a club-record €25m in June 2007. The 25-year-old winger or forward was scarred from a car accident when he was two and has played at a total of seven clubs including Galatasaray and Marseille.
Jérôme Rothen
Touted as France’s ‘left-sided David Beckham’ after his performances propelled Monaco to the Champions League Final in 2004, Rothen signed for boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain that summer, after featuring in France’s Euro 2004 quarter-final. Now 30 Rothen is expected to only be a peripheral figure in Switzerland and Austria.
Jérémy Toulalan
Holding midfielder Toulalan was one of the stars of Lyon’s 2007/8 season, having signed from Nantes in 2006, his alma mater. The 24-year-old is lauded by Raymond Domenech and is viewed as Claude Makélélé’s eventual successor in the national team. Is yet to score in 11 games for Les Bleus.
Patrick Vieira
Former Arsenal lynchpin Vieira won his second consecutive Scudetto with Internazionale in 2007/8 (the previous year’s was for Juventus) and the France captain’s form will be vital if his team are to repeat their Euro 2000 success. The 6’4” midfielder, who turns 32 during the tournament, has over 100 caps for his country and was born in Dakar, Senegal.
Forwards:
Nicolas Anelka
Chelsea’s Anelka moved to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer market for £15m, meaning that his six transfers have amassed £85m – the most any player has managed. The clinical striker, 29, is back in favour for Les Bleus after missing out on Germany 2006 and scored four goals in seven Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Karim Benzema
Lyon’s talented forward Benzema, who prefers a central role but can play on either wing, is of Kabyle-Algerian descent. Coveted by Europe’s top clubs, Benzema, 20, put pen to paper on a new deal which ties him to Lyon until 2013, and makes him Ligue 1’s highest-paid player on €4.8m per annum.
Djibril Cissé
Striker Cissé, 26, made his name at Auxerre before moving to Liverpool for a then club record £14m in 2004. After horrendously breaking his leg in a warm up game against China before Germany 2006, many feared Cissé’s career would be doomed. However he has come back into favour with a good season for Marseille.
Sidney Govou
Lyon’ versatile attacker Govou, of Beninese descent, has filled in for Les Bleus on a number of occasions without ever pinning down a place. The 28-year-old was called up to France’s Germany 2006 squad after Djibril Cissé broke his leg, and scored twice in their 2-1 win over Italy in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Thierry Henry
Since moving from Arsenal, where he broke Cliff Bastin’s long-standing goal record, Henry, now 30, has struggled to gain a regular starting place at Barcelona. The former Monaco winger has never been out of favour for Les Bleus, however. In October 2007 he broke Michel Platini’s goalscoring record and now has 44 goals (six in qualifying).
Louis Saha
Manchester United’s 29-year-old striker Saha has had an injury-hit four seasons at Old Trafford since his move from Fulham, where he impressed by scoring 53 goals in Premier League 117 games. The Paris-born player began his career with Metz before being loaned to Newcastle.
David Trezeguet
World Cup 1998 winner Trezeguet will always be lauded by the French after his golden goal in the final of Euro 2000 clinched victory over Italy. The tall, quick forward, 30, had been out of favour under Raymond Domenech, though an impressive goal-scoring 2007/8 in Italy with Juventus brought him back into contention.
Labels: Euro 2008, France, Raymond Domenech
