Winning back the trust of the fans has proved to be a long and difficult process for France following the training ground strike that shamed the nation at the last World Cup.
The incredible scenes of joy at the final whistle when France beat Ukraine 3-0 in October – overturning a 2-0 deficit from the first leg – underlined just how much this meant to long-suffering fans.
France’s display on that tense night will go down in the nation’s football folklore, and rightly so. It was full of the flair, passion and sheer exuberance once a hallmark of the team that won the 1998 World Cup, the 2000 European Championship and reached the World Cup final in 2006.
As the Stade de France crowd sang at the final whistle, the players joined in and unity was restored. Now, France head to Brazil with relatively little pressure in the role of dangerous outsider.
France failed to win a game four years ago in South Africa and scored only one goal. This time they stand a good chance of winning Group E ahead of Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras, and avoiding a possible second-round encounter with Argentina.
Following the retirement of Zinedine Zidane after the 2006 final, France lacked leadership and invention. The squad were a fading force in South Africa, with Thierry Henry on his last legs, and others like Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka failing to live up to their reputations.
Euro 2012 was better, until France played Spain and were easily beaten in the quarter-finals. Both of those tournaments were marred by player unrest.
The current side look far more cohesive and team spirit has genuinely been restored under coach Didier Deschamps, who has players approaching peak form.
Striker Karim Benzema is finally fulfilling his potential and has been superb for Real Madrid in recent weeks, while 21-year-old Paul Pogba is one of the most highly coveted midfielders in world football. Add the creative spark of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, the tenacious midfield tackling of Blaise Matuidi and the crisp passing of Yohan Cabaye and France have enough quality to threaten most teams.
With the midfield and forward line settled, the area France need to sort out is defence.
Left back Patrice Evra looks likely to keep his place, although that seems to be more through lack of competition for places rather than form, while the right back slot is between Bacary Sagna and Mathieu Debuchy.
Eliaquim Mangala is making a late bid to take one of the centre half places but Deschamps is likely to pick Laurent Koscielny alongside Raphael Varane.
Koscielny is prone to giving away penalties and has a volatile temperament – he was sent off in the first leg against Ukraine in Kiev. However, the Arsenal defender remains a good reader of the game and his passing from the back is useful to start attacks.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris remains the undisputed first choice and team captain.
Several members of the France team that went on strike in training four years ago will be at the World Cup in Brazil, including mainstays Franck Ribery and Hugo Lloris.
But Deschamps has freshened up an aging squad and youngsters like Pogba will be eager to make an impression on the world stage.
Karim Benzema, who was left out of the squad for the World Cup in South Africa four years ago, will get his chance to shine after a disappointing European Championship in 2012, and Blaise Matuidi has become a key player thanks to his boundless stamina and tenacious tackling.
Here are five players to watch:
Karim Benzema – After failing to score in the last two European Championships, and missing out on the 2010 World Cup, this is his big chance to shine on the world stage.
In the space of a few months, he has gone from losing his form and confidence to becoming one of the most lethal strikers in Europe.
It has been some turnaround from Benzema, who lost his place in the France team to Olivier Giroud last year after a dismal run of 15 international games without a goal. Since the turn of the year, the 26-year-old Benzema has scored freely for Real Madrid and he even outshone Cristiano Ronaldo in the 4-3 loss to Barcelona on March 23, scoring two clinical goals.
Franck Ribery – When Benzema was struggling for form and goals, France turned to Ribery.
Ribery’s international career started brilliantly when, as an unknown, he was catapulted into the side that reached the 2006 World Cup final.
It was all downhill from there with a knee injury against Italy at Euro 2008 and a three-match ban from the French federation after the 2010 World Cup, when he was perceived to be one of the ringleaders of a training ground strike.
After two difficult years, the Bayern Munich winger got the fans firmly back on his side with some outstanding performances.
With 81 appearances and 16 goals, he remains France’s most dangerous player.
Hugo Lloris – Not many goalkeepers are international captains, especially not the silent ones. But, despite his mild-mannered demeanor and soft voice, Lloris has nonetheless imposed himself as a leader on the field through his faultless attitude and consistent performances.
The Tottenham keeper has been firmly installed as France’s No 1 since the last World Cup and with 55 international appearances at the age of 27, he is set to win more than 100 caps for his country.
Quick off his line, solid in the air on corners and free kicks, and with exceptional reflexes as well as good feet, Lloris is a complete keeper.
Blaise Matuidi – The defensive midfielder is one of the most valuable members of the France team.
A tireless runner with tremendous stamina, he is also a tenacious tackler and a careful passer. He rarely does anything flashy, but his ability to keep things simple has proved invaluable for French champions Paris Saint-Germain and the national team over the past two seasons.
The 26-year-old Matuidi made only four appearances in two years under former France coach Laurent Blanc. He has already been picked 16 times by Didier Deschamps, France’s former captain, who perhaps sees something of himself in the way Matuidi sacrifices himself for the team.
Paul Pogba – Deschamps gave him a huge vote of confidence when he thrust him into the starting line-up against world champions Spain in a crucial World Cup qualifier last March.
It was only the 21-year-old’s second international appearance, but Deschamps thought he was ready to face the best midfield in the world.
Although Pogba got sent off for a clumsy foul on Xavi Hernandez, the experience served him well and he has not been out of the side since.
His graceful, athletic running, solid tackling and excellent passing are allied to a brilliant eye for goal. Pogba has scored some superb long-distance goals for Juventus and Deschamps is counting on him to show his attacking flair in Brazil.
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