Tag: EURO

FRANCE ARE TOP FAVOURITES TO WIN EURO 2016

Les Blues are currently one of the most in form team in Europe with just few months to the European championships billed for June this year. Les blues are currently top favorites to win the trophy on home soil.

Christian Karembeu, France legend and World Cup winner, is also among those that believe the current French national team can end the 16-year wait for a major trophy by backing the composition of the national team under the guidance of veteran boss Didier Deschamps.

Karembeu said: “Didier Deschamps is building a new team with new ideas and we did well in the last world cup (2014) so I think we can see a strong national team in Euros.”

He then added: “we know we have potential and talent but, at home we also have our fans and they will push the team to perform and maybe even win it.”

Talking about talent and potential the French national team has a fine blend of both youth and experience with the likes of Antoine Griezman, Kinsley Coeman, Raphael Varane and Dimitri Payet in top form for their various clubs ahead of the championships. Veteran players like Patrice Evra and captain Hugo Illoris can provide the needed on field guidance and direction that is needed in huge competitions like the Euro. Continue reading FRANCE ARE TOP FAVOURITES TO WIN EURO 2016

FRANCE’S 2016 EURO CAMPAIGN LOOKING GOOD DESPITE BENZEMA’S SCANDAL

Les Blues go into the Euro this year as host of the continental championship. The star-studded team has A-list players plying tackles in the best teams of the world. The players are all vibrant and talented in their various positions.

Hugo Lloris is the first choice goal keeper and squad captain. The gifted goal keeper is also the first team choice for in-form Tottenham Hotspur FC. He has contributed significantly to their campaign this season with Spurs in second place in the English Premiership League. In defense is Bacary Sagna plying trade for Manchester City FC. Young talent, Raphael Varane playing for Real Madrid FC has won many laurels with the club including the UEFA Champions’ League. Varane is also in defense alongside Mamadou Sakho and former captain, Patrice Evra.

Midfiled has talents such as Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi and Matthieu Valbuena. Strike force includes current sensation in Athletico Madrid, Antoine Griezmann and real Madrid striker, Kareem Benzema.

These are the projected starting team for Les Blues. Coach Didier Deschamps also has options in West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet. The injury scare the team has is Nabil Fekir playing at Lyon. The attacker is close to returning to action but the talent may not make the final squad. The young player played last in September last year when France defeated Portugal by a lone goal. Continue reading FRANCE’S 2016 EURO CAMPAIGN LOOKING GOOD DESPITE BENZEMA’S SCANDAL

Karim Benzema is facing a huge fight to get back into the France team

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is facing a huge fight to get back into the France team just-in-time before the Euro 2016.

He is the latest French star to be caught in a scandal and he faces a ban from the national team as a result. In the past, the French team has suffered as a result of huge indiscipline among names like Patrice Evra, Nicolas Anelka, and Ribery. It has been a major factor in France being unable to dominate international football since winning the World Cup in 1998. For the Euro 2016, there is a great opportunity for the club to become European champions once again.

The last time France had home advantage, they ended up winning the World Cup. Such a similar event would repeat in the summer of 2016, but the team needs the presence of important players like Benzema and Olivier Giroud according to former great David Trezeguet. The former Juventus man played for the national team in a number of major tournaments. Now retired from the game, he has spoken about the need to have some quality of front in order to have any chance of winning the tournament. Trezeguet last played for France in 2008 and he finished with 71 caps. Continue reading Karim Benzema is facing a huge fight to get back into the France team

Eliaquim Mangala feels that France have the best manager to deal with the Euro 2016

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala feels that France have the best manager to deal with the Euro 2016 in the form of Didier Deschamps.

The former Marseille manager has been leading the national team for the last three years. Even though the national team has been going through a period of crisis with the lack of young and upcoming players to supplement the former stars,Deschamps has been able to get a decent set of results so far. The biggest challenge for the manager will come in the Euro 2016. Since France hosts the tournament, they have already qualified and have been involved only in friendly matches so far.

This is not likely to provide a big challenge to the team. As a result, the manager will have to call upon his experience in order to find a way to motivate his players.Deschamps now setting out to about winning with the French national team after having been part of the 1998 team that won the World Cup in front of their own supporters.Deschamps has been relatively successful manager, but there have been few who have replicated national team success both as a player and as a manager. The home advantage will be a major aspect that could determine the success of the French national team. Continue reading Eliaquim Mangala feels that France have the best manager to deal with the Euro 2016

West Ham have made one of the best starts to a league campaign

West Ham have made one of the best starts to a league campaign and this has largely been down to the brilliance of Dimitri Payet.

The 28-year-old has made only a few appearances for France since his debut in 2010. However, he was hoping that his good form with West Ham might see him get back into the national team on a consistent basis. Returning to the international fold will especially be important for the 28-year-old given that the upcoming Euro 2016 will be held on home soil.Payet has been impressive in the opening six games of the league.

Manager Slaven Bilic has built the team aroundPayet with the French international supporters by the likes of Sakho and Victor Moses. There is a lot of competition within the national team, but the recent downturn in form was expected to help lesser-known players likePayet. After suffering defeats in back-to-back friendly matches in June, manager Didier Deschamps has been able to get on the form back on track with two victories over Portugal and Serbia in this month. Only friendlies await the team between now and Euro 2016. Hence, they are likely to be extremely important in terms of preparation. France face the likes of Denmark, Germany, and Armenia in the next few matches. Continue reading West Ham have made one of the best starts to a league campaign

Jeremy Mathieu might have done heroics for Barcelona

The French centre half Jeremy Mathieu might have done heroics for Barcelona in the most recent El Clasico, but, it was not enough to make Didier Deschamps feel that not selecting the centre back in the national squad for the next two friendly fixtures was a mistake.

Deschamps is still backing his decision. He reckons the choices that he has made, there is some sort of logic behind it and he is fully convinced that the Les Blues are going to fetch some very good results.

Ever since Mathieu has found the net in the Clasico, the French media has been moaning about him not being picked in the national Squad and that it’s going to harm the French team’s chances.

Deschamps is, however, on a different page. According to him, whenever a player is excluded from the national squad and then, he puts up a good performance somewhere, he sparks a debate. But, people should see from manager’s perspective and understand what he is trying to do.

Speaking to the media, Deschamps said, “You have got to back your choices. There’s always going to be different opinions on the squad that you have come up with. But, as a manager, if you have made a decision, you must believe that it will work for the team.” Continue reading Jeremy Mathieu might have done heroics for Barcelona

Didier Deschamps got Contract Extension

The French Football Federation has agreed to offer Didier Deschamps with a contract extension that will see the coach remain in charge of the national side at least until the end of the 2018 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps managed to push the French team to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup which has been their best finish in that competition since 2010 and it was impressive enough for him to receive a contract extension, this is good news for the French national squad which has been facing so much criticism in the past few years.

However, not everything is good news as there has been a string of negative news and rumors emerging concerning the upcoming 2016 Euro’s which is going to be hosted in France.

Earlier in January of the current year, a shooting took place on Paris involving 2 brothers who made their way into the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and killed 11 people in an incident that the Islamist Terrorist group Al-Qaueda branch in Yemen took responsibility for.

This incident has caused a huge impact not only in France but in the entire world as more activities of this nature have been occurring. Meanwhile in Paris, a number of restrictions has originated involving the filming of action movies in Paris but it has also caused a wave of things in the world of football. Continue reading Didier Deschamps got Contract Extension

France Football made great Progress under Didier Deschamps

After years of underachieving under the likes of Raymond Domenech and Laurent Blanc, France have certainly made substantial progress under the management of Didier Deschamps.

The former Monaco manager helped France reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2014. This was seen as a huge improvement compared to the failure of getting beyond the group stage in the previous edition. France also could only muster a quarter-final finish in the Euro 2012 under Laurent Blanc. Due to this excellent 2014,Deschamps’ stock has risen in various quarters and there are several clubs trying to get him back to club football. Continue reading France Football made great Progress under Didier Deschamps