bluejock
Boss coat aficionado
Manager -
Squad
Goalkeepers - Cédric Carrasso (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyonnais), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille)
Defenders - Gaël Clichy (Manchester City FC), Mathieu Debuchy (LOSC Lille Métropole), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal FC), Philippe Mexès (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia CF), Anthony Réveillère (Olympique Lyonnais)
Midfielders - Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United FC), Alou Diarra (Olympique de Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC), Marvin Martin (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Yann M'Vila (Stade Rennais FC), Samir Nasri (Manchester City FC), Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United FC)
Forwards - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid CF), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier Hérault SC), Jérémy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille)
"Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé..."
France, home of cheese, baguettes, Carla Bruni, and soldiers who much prefer sitting around in the barracks eating said cheese and baguettes to actually fighting wars. They do however, have a rather decent football team. The second worst international manager of recent years (you'd have to go a long way to top Berti McVogts) Monsieur Domenech is no more and Laurent Blanc has taken over the reigns, and shouldn't have to work too hard to better Crazy Ray's tournament record.
Les Bleus qualified top of their group by a point from Bosnia and Herzegovina in a patchy campaign that saw them lose at home to footballing superpower Belarus. They managed only 15 goals along the way with Karim Benzema top scoring with three goals. Qualification was assured only in the last game as a late Samir Nasri penalty equalised against B&H to see the French through.
This year's squad sees seven English based players including Man City's Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, friend of Suarez Patrice Evra, and Newcastle's pair of Hatem Ben Arfa and the snidey git Yohan Cabaye. Beware ballboys of Eastern Europe. Hugo Lloris will probably play in goal with Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal and Milan's Philippe Mexès making up the heart of defence. In midfield, Alou Diarra and Yann M'Vila provide the bite in the tackle whilst Nasri, Ben Arfa and Frank Ribery will look to supply the front men. Madrid's Karim Benzema, fresh off the back of an impressive season in La Liga, will lead the line, most likely supported by Mathieu Valbuena of Marseille.
Jock's player to watch is Chelsea's Florent Malouda. Although often overshadowed by Drogba in the Premier League, he has a keen eye for goal and his direct style will trouble the poorer defenses of Sweden and Ukraine.
Prediction
Semi Finals. I think they will be too strong for a Rooney-less England, meaning they should top their group. This will set up a possible quarter final with Ireland which they'll probably win, although as mentioned before, beware the feeling of revenge for Henry's handball in Paris in 2009. Germany will prove too strong in the semis.
