Gael Clichy Makes Convincing Case to Start for France at Euro 2012

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: May 2, 2012

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The members of that glorious Arsenal side that swept through the 2003-04 English Premier League season unbeaten have begun to filter into retirement one by one, beginning that heart-clenching chore of hanging up their boots for the last time (save for some celebrity game appearances.)

Sol Campbell, who had started in central defense for that historic outfit, became the latest to do so Wednesday, calling an end to his professional career after being out of football since the end of last season.

So many of those stalwarts who made that pursuit of perfection so thoroughly enjoyable to watch have faded from the fore.

But some remain in football, now scattered throughout Europe in the inevitable diaspora that arises after seasons. Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy were the last two remaining members of the Invincibles; now none remain.

At the time, Clichy was another of the youthful team members steeped in talent who looked likely to go on and enjoy a prosperous career. Most, like Clichy, have since gone on to become (well, maybe not in David Bentley's case) excellent campaigners—just not for Arsenal anymore.

Clichy was all of 18 years old during that 2003-04 season. He did get a winner's medal thanks to his 12 league appearances (the minimum to receive a medal is 12) and 22 in all competitions.

Signed from Cannes for just £250,000 before the season, the Toulouse-born speedster primarily served as the backup to starting left-back Ashley Cole and was on the bench for that fateful May match against Leicester City that saw Arsenal crowned champions.



Clichy has often seen his path to first-team football—for both club and country—blocked by players who were older and deemed to be superior.

At Arsenal, it was Cole who remained the first-choice back until his petulant departure in 2006.

For France, it has always been Patrice Evra, who served as the...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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