France squad at Euro 2004
France
Euro 2004 Home | Squad | Star Player | Key Man
France, the defending champions, will once again start a tournament as clear favourites. They have the best team and by far the best squad, with plenty of top quality cover if their stars get injured. They seem to have recovered from their World Cup debacle and won all eight of their qualifiers, only conceding two goals en route. There are many match winners in their ranks, but potentially a couple of match losers. Desailly has been in and out of the Chelsea team and embarrassed himself in his last two Champions League appearances. He is the weak link and has become far too error prone. Otherwise, a mistake by 'keeper Fabien Barthez may be the only thing that can keep France from retaining their crown.
Squad
Coach: Jacques Santini
| Goalkeepers: 16-Fabien Barthez (Marseille), 23-Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), 1-Mickael Landreau (Nantes) Defenders: 2-Jean-Alain Boumsong (Auxerre), 8-Marcel Desailly (Chelsea), 5-William Gallas (Chelsea), 3-Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich), 19-Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), 13-Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), 15-Lilian Thuram (Juventus), Midfielders: 17-Olivier Dacourt (Roma), 6-Claude Makelele (Chelsea), 18-Benoit Pedretti (Sochaux), 7-Robert Pires (Arsenal), 14-Jerome Rothen (Monaco), 4-Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), 10-Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) Forwards: 12-Thierry Henry (Arsenal), 21-Steve Marlet (Marseille), 19-Louis Saha (Manchester United), 20-David Trezeguet (Juventus), 11-Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal) |
| What more can be said about Zinedine Zidane? The world's best player needs no introduction. He'll turn 32 during the tournament so this could be his last appearance on the world stage. 'Zizou' will be keen to make up for a disappointing World Cup where he played only once and is desperate to restore French pride. Who would bet against him bowing out on a high? He'll probably be handed a fairly free role in the French midfield and will be a nightmare for opposing defenders to pick up. A likely candidate for player of the tournament. |
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| Key Man | France will probably play with two up front and David Trezeguet may well be the main source of goals but Thierry Henry will be the main threat thanks to his pace, acceleration and lethal shot. The Arsenal striker has enjoyed a fantastic season, winning both player of the year awards again, and finishing top scorer in the Premiership. It's hard to see how anyone will be able to cope with him. It isn't unknown for Henry to have a bad game so his form will be an important factor for 'Les Bleus'. Keep him fit and on-song and they should go all the way. |
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