France: self-assured leaders in their field
Portugal's Dimas (R) lands on the pitch as French player Nicolas Anelka (C) controls the ball against Portugal's Vidigal (L).
Photo: Charles Platiau, Reuters
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Any remaining doubts as to the resilience, the physical and mental shape, and the tactics of the World Champions that were raised in some quarters immediately after their success in Paris have long since vanished. During the EURO 2000 qualifying competition France may have had to overcome some of their most worrying moments in the last 30 months, but aside from this, Roger Lemerre's team has been able to confirm its worldwide appeal as one of the most attractive European teams ever seen.
Their record in 2000 is excellent, with just a single defeat in 17 games and a dozen wins, mostly against top-quality opponents. The reigning World and European Champions, the first team to win these titles in that order, demonstrated to fans and experts alike just how important a healthy portion of self-confidence can be at the top levels of sport.
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France's Nicolas Anelka (front) holds off South Africa's Bafana Bafana Delron Buckley (behind) during their Nelson Mandela Challenge friendly soccer match.
Photo: Juda Ngwenya, Reuters
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France's Nicolas Anelka (top) out jumps a trio of Czech Republic's players during their second group D European Championship match June 16.
Photo: Pawel Kopczynski, Reuters
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And in addition to maturity and experience France now possess something they had lacked for many years, namely a depth to their squad that is the envy of coaches everywhere. Legends such as Didier Deschamps and Laurent Blanc, with 200 caps between them, were able to retire from international football without inflicting any lasting damage on the team, who went on to thrash Turkey 4-0 away in their next friendly match.
As well as the established older members of the team and young stars such as Trezeguet und Anelka, players such as Marlet, Micoud, Djetou, Giuly, Vairelles and others are waiting in the wings. And they are being given their opportunity by a coach who disputes the claim that only foreign-based players have a chance of playing for the national side and is convinced that quality on the bench is the key to winning big matches. The French aim to continue nurturing the "culture of winning" in every friendly and, of course, at events such as the FIFA Confederations Cup, which gives a team without any serious competitive games a welcome opportunity to see where it stands.
| N° |
Pos |
Popular Name |
Shirt Name |
Club |
D.O.B. |
| [ 1] |
GK |
RAME Ulrich |
RAME |
Girondins de Bordeaux |
19-Sep-72 |
| [ 2] |
DF |
SAGNOL Willy |
SAGNOL |
Bayern Munich (GER) |
18-Mar-77 |
| [ 3] |
DF |
LIZARAZU Bixente |
LIZARAZU |
Bayern Munich (GER) |
09-Dec-69 |
| [ 4] |
MF |
VIEIRA Patrick |
VIERA |
Arsenal (ENG) |
23-Jun-76 |
| [ 5] |
MF |
GILLET Nicolas |
GILLET |
Nantes |
08-Nov-76 |
| [ 6] |
MF |
DJORKAEFF Youri |
DJORKAEFF |
Kaiserslautern (GER) |
09-Mar-68 |
| [ 7] |
MF |
PIRES Robert |
PIRES |
Arsenal (ENG) |
29-Oct-73 |
| [ 8] |
DF |
DESAILLY Marcel |
DESAILLY |
Chelsea (ENG) |
07-Sep-68 |
| [ 9] |
FW |
ANELKA Nicolas |
ANELKA |
Paris St-Germain |
14-Mar-79 |
| [10] |
MF |
CARRIERE Eric |
CARRIERE |
Nantes |
24-May-73 |
| [11] |
FW |
WILTORD Sylvain |
WILTORD |
Arsenal (ENG) |
10-May-74 |
| [12] |
GK |
COUPET Gregory |
COUPET |
Olympique Lyonnais |
31-Dec-72 |
| [13] |
DF |
SILVESTRE Mikael |
SILVESTRE |
Manchester Utd. (ENG) |
09-Aug-77 |
| [14] |
FW |
NEE Frederic |
NEE |
Bastia |
18-Apr-75 |
| [15] |
MF |
BRECHET Jeremie |
BRECHET |
Olympique Lyonnais |
14-Aug-79 |
| [16] |
MF |
DACOURT Olivier |
DACOURT |
Leeds Utd. (ENG) |
25-Sep-74 |
| [17] |
FW |
MARLET Steve |
MARLET |
Olympique Lyonnais |
10-Jan-74 |
| [18] |
DF |
LEBOEUF Frank |
LEBOEUF |
Chelsea (ENG) |
22-Jan-68 |
| [19] |
DF |
KAREMBEU Christian |
KAREMBEU |
Middlesbrough (ENG) |
03-Dec-70 |
| [20] |
DF |
CAMARA Zoumana |
CAMARA |
Olympique de Marseille |
03-Apr-79 |
| [21] |
FW |
DUGARRY Christophe |
DUGARRY |
Girondins de Bordeaux |
24-Mar-72 |
| [22] |
FW |
ROBERT Laurent |
ROBERT |
Paris St-Germain |
21-May-75 |
| [23] |
GK |
LANDREAU Mickael |
LANDREAU |
Nantes |
14-May-79 |
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