Group G
FRANCE
World Cup participations: 11
Greatest World Cup achievement: World Cup winners (1998)
The last 2 world cups have been a rollercoaster of feelings for
France - 1998 the world cup title at home, but 2002 going home
after the group stage having started as the top-favourite.
Qualification for the world cup in Germany was neither easy.
Only in the last round the French could secure their
world cup ticket.
The team France consists of 2 generations of players - on the one hand
the old stars, which have partly appeared already at the world cup victory
in 1998 - Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet, Thuram, Barthez, Vieira - and
on the other hand young talents and late bloomers with little international
experience like Cisse or Malouda.
Zidane has great class - that's clear - but can he still lead a team at world
cup level? We doubt it a little bit - think of his form at Real Madrid -
the time of the great football technician seems to be over.
The French can be lucky with such an easy world cup draw.
The quarter final is relaxedly reachable; and with a little
bit of luck they could even go further.
We don't estimate France to high, but that draw nearly pushes you
to bet on France!
The odds on France as world cup winner were not too low
- 11.0 at Betandwin.
For a bet on group winner France you get 1.28.
FRANCE
World
Cup 2002 saw an early first-round exit of the French men. The
team has certainly overcome the shock and is all geared up to
meet the challenge. However, they have to learn to draw their
opponents out of their own penalty areas in order to make
room. Thierry Henry does manage to score regularly on the
smallest pitch in English leagues, but the Portuguese
defenders may not be as giving.
Despite
having quality players, Euro 2000 saw France struggle against
Italy in the final. It could have been the side effects of
over-confidence. But the same mistake this time around might
cost them the cup.
In
Zinadine Zidane, France have one of the most intelligent
footballers ever and he can be expected to take care of the
situation. Much is expected from Zidane and Henry.
Players
to Watch out for: Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane.
World Cup Squad France
This is the official world cup squad -
you can find here all the
world cup players
for France
Goalkeepers
Fabien Barthez
Grégory Coupet
Mickaël Landreau
Defenders
Eric Abidal
Jean-Alain Boumsong
Pascal Chimbonda
William Gallas
Gaël Givet
Willy Sagnol
Mikaël Silvestre
Lilian Thuram
Midfielders
Vikash Dhorasoo
Alou Diarra
Claude Makelele
Florent Malouda
Patrick Vieira
Zinédine Zidane
Strikers
Djibril Cissé
Thierry Henry
Franck Ribéry
Louis Saha
David Trezeguet
Sylvain Wiltord
Other World Cup Teams
Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador
Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden
Group C
Argentina
Cote d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Netherlands
Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal
Group E
Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic
Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan
Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo
Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
|
