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France have turned from ‘disgrace’ to the team everyone wants to watch France have turned from ‘disgrace’ to the team everyone wants to watch
(2 months later)
From national disgraces to the side everyone wants to watch in Brazil, it has been some turnaround for Didier Deschamps and his France squad. The 2-0 defeat to Ukraine in the first leg of their play-off back in November left Les Bleus on the brink of elimination and led to headlines featuring the view of the far-Right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, that “ultra-liberalism applied to football” was to blame for their demise.From national disgraces to the side everyone wants to watch in Brazil, it has been some turnaround for Didier Deschamps and his France squad. The 2-0 defeat to Ukraine in the first leg of their play-off back in November left Les Bleus on the brink of elimination and led to headlines featuring the view of the far-Right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, that “ultra-liberalism applied to football” was to blame for their demise.
Yet since Mamadou Sakho’s two goals helped France qualify for Brazil on a dramatic night in Paris, everything seems to have been going rather well for Deschamps – the man who captained his country to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998. Friday’s 5-2 destruction of Group E’s top seeds, Switzerland, was the culmination of some impressive performances that have seen France installed as fourth favourites to win the competition, even if Le Pen is probably yet to be convincedYet since Mamadou Sakho’s two goals helped France qualify for Brazil on a dramatic night in Paris, everything seems to have been going rather well for Deschamps – the man who captained his country to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998. Friday’s 5-2 destruction of Group E’s top seeds, Switzerland, was the culmination of some impressive performances that have seen France installed as fourth favourites to win the competition, even if Le Pen is probably yet to be convinced
“This victory … is neither an exploit, nor an end in itself,” read a Front National statement released after the Ukraine victory. “It is only a start towards the team’s redemption and no one has forgotten the South African fiasco.”“This victory … is neither an exploit, nor an end in itself,” read a Front National statement released after the Ukraine victory. “It is only a start towards the team’s redemption and no one has forgotten the South African fiasco.”
Nicolas Anelka and the players’ revolt under Raymond Domenech at their luxury Knysna training camp four years ago seemed a world away as Karim Benzema and co strolled to victory in Salvador. Having purged the squad of any players deemed divisive despite widespread criticism over the omission of Manchester City’s Samir Nasri, Deschamps was quick to attempt to revive the spirit of the team he captained 16 years ago.Nicolas Anelka and the players’ revolt under Raymond Domenech at their luxury Knysna training camp four years ago seemed a world away as Karim Benzema and co strolled to victory in Salvador. Having purged the squad of any players deemed divisive despite widespread criticism over the omission of Manchester City’s Samir Nasri, Deschamps was quick to attempt to revive the spirit of the team he captained 16 years ago.
“It is the same thing that we saw in 1998. While we cannot compare each changing room, I have a very focused group at present, they have a mindset that they want to maintain, even those who play less, there is a force that is rising,” he said.“It is the same thing that we saw in 1998. While we cannot compare each changing room, I have a very focused group at present, they have a mindset that they want to maintain, even those who play less, there is a force that is rising,” he said.
“While this is not a guarantee of success, in addition to our qualities this mindset is very important.”“While this is not a guarantee of success, in addition to our qualities this mindset is very important.”
Aimé Jacquet’s team – which featured Zinedine Zidane and numerous players of various ethnic backgrounds at a time when the Front National’s popularity was at an all-time high under Marine’s father, Jean-Marie – was hailed as a beacon for the new France at the time. Fresh from topping the polls at last month’s European elections with more than 20% of the vote for the first time in their history, it feels like history could be about to repeat itself, with Real Madrid’s Benzema looking more than ready to fulfil the Zidane role. Aimé Jacquet’s team – which featured Zinedine Zidane and numerous players of various ethnic backgrounds at a time when the Front National’s popularity was at an all-time high under Marine’s father, Jean-Marie – was hailed as a beacon for the new France at the time. Fresh from topping the polls at last month’s European elections with more than 20% of the vote for the first time in their history, it feels like history could be about to repeat itself, with Real Madrid’s Benzema looking more than ready to fulfil the Zidane role.
Born in Lyon to Algerian parents, Benzema was set up for that goal against Switzerland by a brilliant pass from the substitute Paul Pogba – who grew up in the tough eastern suburbs of Paris to parents from Guinea and Congo. The scorer of the second goal, Blaise Matuidi, has an Angolan father and a Congolese mother.Born in Lyon to Algerian parents, Benzema was set up for that goal against Switzerland by a brilliant pass from the substitute Paul Pogba – who grew up in the tough eastern suburbs of Paris to parents from Guinea and Congo. The scorer of the second goal, Blaise Matuidi, has an Angolan father and a Congolese mother.
France have now scored eight goals in their two matches and Benzema, who also provided two assists on top of his goal, wants more of the same in the final group match with Ecuador.France have now scored eight goals in their two matches and Benzema, who also provided two assists on top of his goal, wants more of the same in the final group match with Ecuador.
“We’re very pleased with the performance and we’ll try to repeat it against Ecuador,” he said. “I enjoyed the match, but when we get awards such as this one, it’s down to the efforts of the team.”“We’re very pleased with the performance and we’ll try to repeat it against Ecuador,” he said. “I enjoyed the match, but when we get awards such as this one, it’s down to the efforts of the team.”
Benzema added: “I’m happy and proud. It was a big game, we scored goals, we played as a team.Benzema added: “I’m happy and proud. It was a big game, we scored goals, we played as a team.
“We had heart to win that game. I am in my head, 100%, but I can do even better. I also take the work of my team-mates. It’s not me, it’s everyone. Even those who did not start the first game and who have returned for this one.”“We had heart to win that game. I am in my head, 100%, but I can do even better. I also take the work of my team-mates. It’s not me, it’s everyone. Even those who did not start the first game and who have returned for this one.”
A point in Rio on Wednesday will secure top spot in the group and a last-16 game likely to be with either Nigeria or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Germany look a formidable obstacle in the quarter-finals should they win their group and both teams make it through the second round but, after being knocked out by West Germany at the semi-finals in both 1982 and 1986, this could be France’s year for revenge.A point in Rio on Wednesday will secure top spot in the group and a last-16 game likely to be with either Nigeria or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Germany look a formidable obstacle in the quarter-finals should they win their group and both teams make it through the second round but, after being knocked out by West Germany at the semi-finals in both 1982 and 1986, this could be France’s year for revenge.
After the Switzerland match, Patrick Vieira – part of the 1998 squad – said: “Didier Deschamps did a fantastic job bringing the players together, their collective will was unbelievable. What I really liked was how they could find team mates who were in a better position to score.”After the Switzerland match, Patrick Vieira – part of the 1998 squad – said: “Didier Deschamps did a fantastic job bringing the players together, their collective will was unbelievable. What I really liked was how they could find team mates who were in a better position to score.”
With everyone now pulling in the same direction and a squad packed with quality and experience, there is every chance Deschamps could become the third person to win football’s biggest prize as a player and coach.With everyone now pulling in the same direction and a squad packed with quality and experience, there is every chance Deschamps could become the third person to win football’s biggest prize as a player and coach.