France Schedule & Results | Scouting Report | Road to Euro 2004

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Style of Play:
With such an embarrassment of riches when it comes to world-class players, it comes as no surprise that Les Bleus play such an elegant, graceful and free-flowing brand of soccer. Coach Jacques Santini uses an attacking 4-4-2 lineup. In this formation, the central defenders anchor the back line, while the wingbacks venture up field to join the attack when the chance presents itself. Just in front of the defenders are two central defensive midfielders who are responsible for winning the ball in midfield: Claude Makelele stays put by supporting the defence, while the marauding Patrick Vieira acts as the link between the defence and attack by pushing up when he can. Santini uses a winger on each side who make penetrating runs down the flanks before cutting inside. Zinedine Zidane is the fulcrum of the attack, given license to wander from his position on the left into the middle where he wields his special brand of playmaking magic. The two forwards feast on the passes supplied to them by the midfield and wingers, with Thierry Henry playing slightly behind the other striker (David Trezeguet) and dropping slightly back into midfield. From there, Henry is renowned for using the space around him to blow by defenders with his speed or giving the ball to Trezeguet with a cutting pass.

Strengths:
World-class depth – Of all the teams at Euro 2004, France has, by far, the deepest roster. France’s starting players all ply their trade on the top teams of European club soccer. If someone is playing poorly, coach Jacques Santini can easily substitute them with a player of equal or greater quality. France has such a deep bench of world-class players that it could easily field two teams at Euro 2004 if they really wanted to.

Scoring punch – Starting strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet are two of the best in the world today. The fact that forwards the quality of Luis Saha, Sidney Govou and Steve Marlet will be on the bench speaks to the depth of France’ s scoring options, to say nothing of an even deeper reservoir of attacking midfielders that includes Zinedine Zidane, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord, all of whom possess deadly scoring acumen.

Coaching – Jacques Santini has done a wonderful job of turning France around in less than two years. After they suffered a humiliating first-round exit at the 2002 World Cup, Santini took over a team lacking morale and transformed them into a cohesive unit that booked its trip to Euro in emphatic style by posting an 8-0 record in topping its qualifying group. Thanks to Santini, France is brimming with swagger and confidence.

Weaknesses:
Fatigue – Because the bulk of the French squad are regular starters with some of the biggest clubs in European soccer, coach Santini’s side of star players could be tired and fatigued by the time Euro rolls around. Many play a gruelling 50-plus game schedule (between league play and others tournaments such as the Champions League). That some of France’s biggest stars might not have anything left to give in Portugal is a real possibility.

Pressure – As defending Euro champions, the pressure is on the French to repeat, especially after their dismal performance at the 2002 World Cup. Every team they play will be going at them with extra verve, as they try to knock off the champions. Every team is gunning for France, a burden that could prove too much to bear. Another fact to keep in mind: no team has ever repeated as champions in the 40-year history of Euro.

Goalkeeping – This is France’s Achilles heel. First-choice goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was forced out at Manchester United this past season after erratic performances the last few years and is a shell of his former self (which wasn’t all that great to begin with). Backups Gregory Coupet and Mickael Landreau aren’t even in the same class as Barthez, leaving France with a major problem between the posts.

Key Players to watch:
Thierry Henry – Considered by most the best striker in the world. The fleet-footed Henry is a deadly finisher and a constant goal-scoring threat, who also boasts gazelle-like speed, deft ball control, mazy dribbling skills, and visionary playmaking ability. He is, without questions, the single-most dangerous player in soccer today.

Zinedine Zidane – Here’s how CBC Sports Online characterized Zidane prior to the 2002 World Cup: “The best player in the world today, bar none. Zidane combines brilliant playmaking ability and deft passing skills with a sublime scoring touch. The spark that drives France's attack, Zidane is a midfield maestro whose inventiveness and creativity on the field reeks of genius.” Two years have passed, but it’s even truer today.

Robert Pires – After missing the 2002 World Cup with a torn knee ligament, the mercurial Pires is expected to use Euro 2004 as a showcase to prove why he is considered the best winger in soccer. Pires is a wonderfully gifted player who combines graceful dribbling, pinpoint accurate passing, exquisite playmaking skills and a deadly scoring touch. He’s at his most dangerous when he challenges opposing defenders by running directly at them as his effortlessly penetrates the penalty area.

Key injuries/squad omissions:
Defender and team captain Marcel Desailly comes into the tournament struggling with a knee problem. Playmaking midfielder Ludovic Giuly was originally selected by coach Santini, but was forced to withdraw because of a torn abdominal muscle. Striker Sidney Govou took his place in the squad. Striker Djibril Cisse is serving a four-match international ban after he was sent off in an Under-21 match against Portugal in November for kicking an opponent. That paved the way for Louis Saha, who is coming off a strong season in the English Premiership with Fulham and Manchester United, to displace Olympique Lyonnais striker Peguy Luyindula as Cisse’s replacement. Despite playing a key role in leading Werder Breman to the German Bundesliga title, veteran midfielder Johan Micoud was not selected. Other notable omissions include midfielders Eric Carriere (a former French Player of the Year), Ousmane Dabo and Olivier Kapo, defenders Philippe Mexes (one of the hottest, young prospects in French soccer) and Vincent Candela, Patrice Evra, Bernard Mendy and Sebastien Squillaci.

Prognosis:
As defending champions and boasting a team full of galactic superstars both in the starting lineup and on the bench, France is the favourite to win Euro 2004. However, the same was said two years ago at the World Cup (where France were the defending champions going into the tournament) and we all know what happened next. Les Bleus are determined not to let that happen again and they will be one of the major players at Euro 2004. Progression beyond Group B is a lock, and anything short of making it to the semifinal will be a shocking result for the French. A date with either Spain or Portugal awaits them in the quarter-final. If France can avoid a potential matchup with the host Portuguese in the next round, they’ll be well on their way to becoming the first team to repeat as Euro champions.

Current FIFA Ranking: #2

First-round schedule:
June 13 vs. England (Lisbon)
June 17 vs. Croatia (Leiria)
June 21 vs. Switzerland (Coimbra)

Euro 2004 qualification route:
Finished 1st in qualifying Group 1 (24 points) ahead of second-place Slovenia (14 points).

Record in qualifying: 8 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
Goals for: 29 Goals against: 2

Qualifying results:
09.07.2002 - France 2 Cyprus 1
10.12.2002 - France 5 Slovenia 0
10.16.2002 - France 4 Malta 0
03.29.2003 - France 6 Malta 0
04.02.2003 – France 2 Israel 1
09.06.2003 – France 5 Cyprus 0
09.10.2003 – France 2 Slovenia 0
10.11.2003 – France 3 Israel 0

Number of Previous Euro Appearances: 7
All-time record: 28 GP -- 16 W, 4 D, 8 L Goals for: 53 Goals against: 39
Biggest defeat: 1-5 vs. Yugoslavia in 1968
Biggest victory: 5-0 vs. Belgium in 1984

Euro History:
1960 – semifinals
1964 – quarter-final
1968 – quarter-final
1972 – did not qualify
1976 – did not qualify
1980 – did not qualify
1984 – CHAMPIONS
1988 – did not qualify
1992 – first round
1996 – semifinals
2000 - CHAMPIONS

Past Achievements:
World Cup Champions: 1998 in France
Olympic Gold Medal: 1984 in Los Angeles
Olympic Silver Medal: 1900 in Paris
Confederations Cup Champions: 2001 in Japan, 2003 in France
Euro Under-18 Champions: 1996 and 1997

Greatest Players:
Michel Platini: A veteran of three World Cups (1978, 1982, 1986), Platini ranks among the greatest players of all time. Platini was a brilliant playmaker in the midfield who anchored France's national side for years and led them to victory in Euro 1984 held in France.

Juste Fontaine: Fontaine scored 13 times in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, establishing a record for most goals in a single tournament that still stands today. He netted 30 goals in 21 appearances for France, making him one of the most prolific goal scorers in French soccer history.