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French squad facing wholesale rebuilding job
Friday's shocking loss to Greece was the full stop at the end of the most glorious chapter in France's soccer history. The 2006 World Cup qualifiers start in September and France will have a very different set-up by then. Jacques Santini's successor, likely to be appointed early next month, will discard several players instrumental in winning the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European title, and bring in youngsters to play the game his way. A good bet to replace Santini, now heading for Tottenham Hotspur, is former international Jean Tigana, who has the respect of both the players and federation officials. Tigana, part of the famous midfield behind France's 1984 European triumph, is a straightforward man who will take the necessary decisions and impose his own tactical philosophy. That is what Aime Jacquet did when he took over from Gerard Houllier after France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. Over a period of four years Jacquet created his own style of play and built up a team strong enough to clinch the World Cup and, under Roger Lemerre, the European crown. Friday's Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat brings an end to that generation's exploits. Captain Marcel Desailly, 35, is retiring after a French record of 116 caps. He should be followed soon by left back Bixente Lizarazu, 34, and possibly Lilian Thuram and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, both 32. The core of the defence will go with them but there are plenty of classy younger players to take their places. Chelsea's William Gallas, AJ Auxerre's Jean-Alain Boumsong, Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre and Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol do not lack quality, only international experience. Question mark If the defence should not trigger too much concern, a question mark hangs over the midfield. Zinedine Zidane poses a major problem. The number 10 has renewed his contract with Real Madrid until 2007 but will he still be capable of making the national team tick in two years' time? Zidane turned 32 on June 23 and he was a shadow of the man who bewitched Euro 2000 in France's final two games here when he was robbed of the ball too often and lacked inspiration. The team now faces a dilemma similar to that when Michel Platini retired in 1987. Then it took France almost 10 years to recover. No other playmaker of Zidane's standard is on the horizon and the new coach must decide whether to stick with him or shift the epicentre of the team's tactics away from "Zizou." Patrick Vieira, who missed Friday's game through injury, is only 28 and the midfield pivot at English champions Arsenal, but his game is far more physical than Zidane's. Replacements will also have to be found for midfielders Claude Makelele, Olivier Dacourt and Sylvain Wiltord who are all over 30. Ironically it's the attack, which dismally failed to fire during Euro 2004, which arouses the least concern. Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet are only 27 while in Djibril Cisse and Louis Saha, France have two of the most exciting strikers in Europe. |
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