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France Could Surprise at World Cup, with or Without the ’87 Generation
Published: March 4, 2014
The coach suggested it was “difficult to measure” how much being left out of the group for this prestige friendly compromised players’ chances of making the tournament (as reported here by L’Equipe, in French), but that “this choice (for this week’s game) is an important one”.
Adjustments, then, are possible, but the omens are not good for a raft of excluded senior players as things stand, including Samir Nasri, Eric Abidal and Adil Rami. Perhaps the biggest indication that Deschamps wishes to begin honing the group dynamic for Brazil already were the inclusions of Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool—key elements in the play-off win over Ukraine—despite their current injuries.
In short, Deschamps is trying his best to sidestep the nasty surprises that have scuppered France at their last couple of major tournaments; the implosion in South Africa in 2010 and the moment in Euro 2012, after defeat to Sweden, that it became clear that Laurent Blanc’s rebuild had foundations of sand.
With that inglorious exit in Ukraine in mind, the most striking feature of France’s current squad is that the bulk of the fabled ’87 generation are absent. Of the most esteemed quartet of French players born in that year—Karim Benzema, Nasri, Jeremy Menez and Hatem Ben Arfa—only the in-form Benzema can be sure of his place in Brazil.
It’s a shame. This World Cup was supposed to be their moment. At 26 and 27 years old by the time the tournament gets underway, this prodigiously talent...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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