2010 FIFA World Cup - France
2010 FIFA World Cup - France National Team
2010 FIFA World Cup France National Team:
Goalkeepers:
1 Hugo LLORIS, 16 Steve MANDANDA and
23 Cedric CARRASSO
Defenders:
2 Bakari SAGNA, 3 Eric ABIDAL, 4 Anthony REVEILLERE, 5 William GALLAS, 6 Marc PLANUS,
13 Patrice EVRA, 17 Sebastien SQUILLACI and 22 Gael CLICHY
Midfielders:
8 Yoann GOURCUFF, 14 Jeremy TOULALAN, 15 Florent MALOUDA, 18 Alou DIARRA and 19 Abou DIABY
Forwards:
7 Franck RIBERY, 9 Djibril CISSE, 10 Sidney GOVOU, 11 Andre Pierre GIGNAC, 12 Thierry HENRY,
20 Mathieu VALBUENA and 21 Nicolas ANELKA
Coach:
Raymond DOMENECH
Top Players Thierry Henry (FRA), Nicolas Anelka (FRA) and William Gallas (FRA).
2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule & Scores
The star players
Since Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram all called time on their international
careers in 2006, a new selection of senior figures has stepped forward. With Patrick Vieira having long struggled
with injury, sole France 1998 survivor Thierry Henry has taken the captain’s armband, with William Gallas the leader
at the back and both Jeremy Toulalan and Lassana Diarra indispensable in midfield. Meanwhile, the emergence of Yoann
Gourcuff, the talent of Franck Ribery and the rejuvenation of Nicolas Anelka have given the coach a variety of options
in attack, where Karim Benzema, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Florent Malouda and Loic Remy will also be hoping to feature.
The coach
The French public have come to regard Raymond Domenech as a paradox unto himself since he took the reins in 2004.
Praised for his communication skills when he first arrived, his perceived weaknesses in that domain were leapt upon
after France failed to shine at UEFA EURO 2008. Domenech has yet to lift silverware with Les Bleus, but he is now
the country’s longest serving national coach and can point to a FIFA World Cup Final appearance as the highlight so
far of a career that has had a steady upwards trajectory.
Mulhouse and Lyon were his starting points in the club game before he entered the national fold to coach the
Under-20s, after which a worthy record with the U-21s won him a crack at the senior side. As a player, he was
a combative defender who won the French league title with Strasbourg in 1979 and Bordeaux in 1984, in addition
to the French Cup with Lyon in 1973 and Paris Saint-Germain in 1982, plus a total of eight caps in the 1970s.
Previous FIFA World Cups
Les Bleus have appeared in 12 final tournaments, winning on home soil in 1998. Regular actors on the greatest stage of all, France also managed third-place finishes in 1958 and 1986, as well as fourth spot in 1982.
Records
1 FIFA World Cup (1998)
2 FIFA Confederations Cup (2001, 2003)
2 UEFA European Championships (1984, 2000)
France - 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 - France
The Favorites An up-and-down qualifying campaign saw the French lose out in their group to Serbia by a
point. Their away form was poor, from going down 3-1 to Austria in their first match to drawing at Romania and
Serbia. They also struggled to get past Ireland in the play-off, with only William Gallas’s extra-time goal
avoiding penalties or worse. However, nobody will underestimate a side that has veteran, emerging and world-class
talent through the spine of the team.