France, the great pretenders. Frustrating to watch, but with real talent

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: France

They so nearly not made the World Cup, but what a turn around for Les Blues. At home against Ukraine to win 3-0 and go through to another world cup.

France, the great pretenders, what can you say. They can be very frustrating to watch at times, seemingly not caring enough to work the yards to win a game. But they definitely have some awesome talent in the squad.

Hugo Lloris, the captain, is an exceptionally gifted keeper who well marshals his defence. A defence with Evra bombing forward all the time, Pogba getting his foot about and harrying in midfield, with an all star forward line of either Giroud or Benzema or Ribery ready to pounce. They haven’t a bad team at all the French. But can they be bothered enough? How many times has this French team disappointed? They really have never replaced Zidane. They need a midfield general to direct attacks and get the team moving along, someone who inspires and leads by example. They need a leader on the pitch, but they dont have one, and they wont be winning any world cup this time around.

That and the fact that I dont rate Didier Deschamps, the water carrier. His very public spat with Pires proves he isn’t all right in the head. No master tactician here.

key players for me will be Benzema or Ribery. The two players haven’t done it for their country as of yet. Both are amazingly talented footballers but sometimes you would wish someone would give them a good kick up the arse. They never look like they enjoy playing the beautiful game. Get them clicking then France have a real chance of at least getting to the last eight.

The game against their neighbors, the Swiss, will be a great game of this world cup. I can see it as a game decided by one goal, but will be full of tension and canny football. Who blinks first gets top spot in the group. I fancy the Swiss at the moment. But overall I still think France are a team that could easily go on a small run and end up in the last eight. But no further.