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Les Bleus – France’s Euro 2012 Preview

Ben Wilson [ Twitter: @BenWilson000] examines Laurent Blanc and France’s chances of winning Euro 2012 – a team who boast a real quality team ethos – a far cry from the recent World Cup.

Two years go in South Africa, France crashed out of the World Cup bottom of the group, without winning a single game. Raymond Domenech’s team were divided, big egos collided, and a mutiny erupted – the result being a disastrous campaign. Most of the blame was laid out at Domenech’s feet. Their qualifying campaign wasn’t smooth either, with Eric Cantona calling him the “worst coach in French football since Louis XVI”. The only French monarch to be guillotined – not the most endearing observation. Euro 2012 is chance for the French to forget 2010!

On 26^th June 2010, two weeks after their World Cup exit Laurent Blanc took the reins of “Les Bleus” and they haven’t looked back since. France are now unbeaten in 21 matches, the longest unbeaten run out of all team participating at the Euros in Poland and Ukraine. The woes of the last major tournament seem to be banished, forgotten. The squad is now more harmonious, and it shows. The recent 4-0 victory over Estonia produced a free flowing attacking performance, one played with enjoyment and smiles on the faces of the players. Blanc has installed a team spirit within the French camp that was so evidently missing two years ago in South Africa. Blaise Matuidi, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder said “We’re not invincible, but the coach has helped us and we’ve got a lot of confidence…We have talented players who can play together. What makes us strong is our team spirit. If we keep that, we can achieve great things together in the future.”

Qualification

Les Bleus topped their group in qualifying with 6 wins, 3 Draws and 1 loss. Scoring 15 goals and only conceding 4, the third lowest in qualifying; only Italy and Russia conceded less. Although not the rampant campaign that some may have predicted considering their group, the job was still completed to good effect. At international level being unbeaten for 21 games is no easy feat and February’s victory over Euro hopefuls Germany proved that this French squad has real quality. They seem to be slight underdogs coming into this tournament, the memories of 2010 still fresh in football’s mind, but Im sure that suits Blanc and Les Tricolores just fine. Expectation is low and even Blanc stated that “Our objective is to win one match.” This isn’t the old French pomp and arrogance that we have come to expect. This time, the tone is underplayed, one of diligence and meticulous preparation. However, the Euro 2000 winners might just be able to go all the way 2012.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon) – Born: 26.12.86 Caps: 32

Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille) – Born: 28.03.85 Caps: 15

Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux) – Born: 30.12.81 Caps: 1

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City) – Born: 26.07.85 Caps: 12 Goals: 0

Patrice Evra (Manchester United) – Born: 15.03.81 Caps: 40. Goals: 0

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) – Born: 10.09.85 Caps: 2 Goals: 0

Philippe Mexes (AC Milan) – Born: 30.03.82 Caps: 25 Goals: 1

Adil Rami (Valencia) – Born: 27.12.85 Caps: 19 Goals: 1

Mathieu Debuchy (Lille) – Born: 28.07.85 Caps: 4. Goals: 1

Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon) – Born: 10.11.79 Caps: 17 Goals: 1

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United) – Born: 14.01.86 Caps: 12 Goals: 0

Florent Malouda (Chelsea) – Born: 13.06.80 Caps: 76 Goals: 9

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) – Born: 26.06.87 Caps: 30 Goals: 3

Alou Diarra (Olympique Marseille) – 15.07.81 Caps: 40 Goals: 0

Yann M’Vila (Stade Rennes) – Born: 26.06.90 Caps: 19 Goals: 1

Marvin Martin (Sochaux) – Born: 10.01.88 Caps: 11 Goals: 2

Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain) – Born: 09.04.87 Caps: 4 Goals: 0

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United) – Born 07.03.87 Caps: 10 Goals: 2

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) – Born: 19.12.87 Caps: 44 Goals: 13

Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) – Born: 07.04.83 Caps: 59 Goals: 9

Olivier Giroud (Montpellier) – Born: 30.09.86 Caps: 5 Goals: 1

Jeremy Menez (Paris St Germain) – Born: 07.05.87 Caps: 12 Goals: 0

Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille) – Born: 28.09.84 Caps: 11 Goals: 2

Individually players have been in top form. Franck Ribery, who is so often criticised for not living up to his hype at international level, has had a fantastic season. Ribery has scored 17 goals this season for Bayern Munich and produced 17 assists. He also completed the most dribbles out of players in the top 5 leagues playing at Euro 2012 with 129; 56 more than Cristiano Ronaldo. Ribery could have a great tournament if he can transfer his club form to Poland and Ukraine, and is definitely a player I will be keeping an eye on, not least because I have him in my fantasy football team! And the signs are good; he’s scored 3 goals in 3 games in the recent warm up games, after not scoring at international level for over 2 years.

Samir Nasri will play a big role, floating higher up the pitch, the link between midfield and attack. His club form was good if slightly indifferent at times, but he’ll definitely be buoyed by winning the Premier League on the last day of the season. That winning mentality will be useful, as well as his eye for a pass he has a 91.1% pass accuracy, the 5^th best at the tournament.

Karim Benzema also brings that winning mentality after scooping the La Liga prize. He’s had an excellent season too, scoring 32 goals for Real Madrid, producing 12 assists. Benzema will lead the French line, and finally this one time wonderkid may be able to fulfill his potential. He may have moved too soon to Madrid from Lyon, but he’s at long last found his feet and is certain to be one to watch in Poland and Ukraine, who knows he could be top goal scorer? However, waiting to take his chance if Benzema doesn’t produce is Oliver Giroud. A fantastic player, a real striker. Good in the air, he won the second most aerial duels (132) in the top 5 leagues, just behind Andy Carrol (152). Giroud was also the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals and he propelled Montpellier to the league title. He scored in the recent victory over Germany which will give great confidence to this young striker.

Jeremy Menez completes their attacking starting four. One of the biggest talents in French football, a mazy inside forward with electric pace, who has had a great season after moving from AS Roma to PSG. Unlucky to miss out on the championship, Menez finished with the most assists after Chelsea bound Eden hazard, with 13 and scoring 7 goals.

Yohan Cabaye will be the midfield general, deep-lying playmaker, one of my favourite players to watch this season in the Premier League. Some people were surprised by his move to Newcastle last year, with many thought that he was destined to cut his teeth in the Champions League, be at Lille after winning the title or at another club with Champions League football. However, Yohan moved to the North East of England, and what a success it has been. Cabaye ran the show up in the toon! Helping Newcastle on their way to a 5^th placed finish and narrowly missing out on a Champions League place. Cabaye goes to the Euros with the most successful tackles in the top 5 leagues with 117. Yohan Cabaye or “Le Dreamboat” as they call him in Newcastle capped off a wonderful end to the season playing a key role in Newcastle’s six wins in a row scoring twice and assisting 4 times in 6 games. Expect Cabaye to play a major part in any success France may have at the Euros, an exquisite passer off the ball with the eye for a shot. He has started in all 3 warm up games so expect him to start against England on Monday night. Cabaye’s midfield partner should be Yan M’Vila, but injured recently in the 2-0 victory against Serbia he is a big doubt for the first game. M’Vila, if unfit, will leave a huge gap in a strong French midfield, one Alou Diarra must fill.

Yann M’Vila, although young, possesses great maturity and authority on the pitch. This season M’Vila won back possession 202 times in 36 games and yet only picked up 2 yellow cards, giving away 0.8 fouls a game, he’s disciplined as well. His role will be to guard the back four, an enforcer and let Cabaye push on slightly and Nasri roam. This role is of great importance to teams in this footballing era, and France is no different. The attacking flair of France need to play with confidence, a confidence that can stem from the trust Ribery, Nasri, Benzema, and Menez place in players such as Cabaye, M’Vila,  Diarra.

Looking at the defence, Les Bleus conceded only 4 goals in the whole qualifying campaign, a sterling effort, and have conceded 2 goals in the three warm up games. The starting right back Mathieu Debuchy is probably one of Europe’s best up and coming right backs. Debuchy possess’s great technique, and likes to push forward and give support, merging defence with attack, he scored recently in one of the warm up games. The centre back pairing of Adil Rami and Phillip Mexes have played 3 times together out of the 4 games played in 2012 so hopefully an understanding is maturing between them. They only have three centre backs in the squad, with Laurent Koscielny as backup who is more than capable. There is a worry though with only 3 centre backs in case of injury! The left back spot is a potential weakness for France; Patrice Evra hasn’t had a great season and was shown up for a lack of pace and bad decision making on a few occasions for Manchester United. Many believe club rival Gael Clichy should be ahead of him, who would be able to cap of a great season if he was to play a major role in any French success after winning the title with Manchester City. If opposing teams can get at Evra down that right hand side, expect questions to be asked. England may see that as a point of attack and use the pace of Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain to expose the French defence.

With the gloves France have a top goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris, one of the best in Europe, young but commanding! He’ll ensure confidence in the rest of the team I am sure. In back-up they have Steve Mandanda and Cedric Carasso. Mandanda lost his place to Lloris just before the 2010 World Cup, but he is a great shot stopper. Carasso will be there for practice, third choice keepers rarely make an appearance in tournaments.

Les Bleus have a host of talented players waiting to grab their chance of the bench. Hatem Ben Arfa, seems to have grown up and matured this season, his move to Newcastle has allowed him to repair his reputation and he really showcased his talent in the second half of the season. His inclusion in the squad is a great personal achievement for a man who suffered a horrendous double leg break not so long ago.  Ben Arfa is a hero on Tyneside, but the Euros will give him a chance to show the French public that he’s a reformed character and not the “Enfant Terrible” he was once labeled. Any team with a player of his ability is a team better off, could make a big impact of the bench and even steal a starting berth.

Mathieu Valbuena is another player that could make an impact. This season for Marseille he made the second most key passes (105) out of any player in the top five leagues playing at the Euros, more than Silva (104), Ozil (103) and Mata (102). The quick attacking midfielder come winger has the ability to thread the ball through and create chances that players like Benzema, Ribery and Giroud will gladly put away. Valbuena is a favourite of Blanc, so expect his involvement to be a formality. The most experienced player in the squad is Florent Malouda, its very close who starts between him and Menez, but Im going for Menez. Malouda will be very useful off the bench, and great to have around with his experience. Marvin Martin and Blaise Matuidi are both young and very talented players. Martin burst on to the international scene scoring two late goals on his debut, and has an unbelievable range of passing. Hasn’t had the best of seasons for Sochaux and he’s rumored to be joining Lille after the tournament. Matuidi has played well at PSG this season and managed to hold down starting spot despite great competition there. But he may have not been picked if it wasn’t for the notable absences of Abou Diaby and Lassana Diarra.

Probable XI: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1

Prediction

They have a great squad full of players who are bang in form. They have gelled well together, the warm up games suggest that. The likes of Spain, Germany and Netherlands are favourites yes, but France are quietly going about their business, maybe even under the radar. They’ll win their group with ease and put in some fine performances Im sure, expect them to get to the Semi-Finals and by that time it’s anyone’s game:

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!!

Fixtures

Monday 11th June France v England; Ukraine v Sweden

Friday 15th June Ukraine v France; Sweden v England

Tuesday 19th June England v Ukraine; France v Sweden

                                                               

Statistics courtesy of Who Scored www.whoscored.com

Author: Ben Wilson @BenWilson000