World cup 2006 preview france

World Cup 2006 Preview – France

Outright Odds: 12/1

Group G Winners: 1/2

France were required to name at the cavalry to make sure qualification to the finals. Stuck in fourth position in their institution, retired veterans Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram lower back to the facet in an test to cc6 game turn across the fortunes of the failing area.

A valuable 1-zero win inside the Republic of Ireland, a 1-1 draw in Switzerland and a 4-zero hammering of Cyprus secured France ideal spot in a group where they remained unbeaten. Two draws towards Israel and Switzerland and one in opposition to Ireland additional to their 5 wins and saw cc6 them forestall a knowledge banana epidermis in the play-offs.

This is the first time France have qualified for the World Cup in twenty years, as they entered the 1998 match as hosts and 2002 as Champions. They didn't succeed in the finals in 1990 and 1994 and shall be determined to stay clear of the humiliation they suffered four years ago by which they achieved backside in their crew with out a intention to their title.

France are an ageing facet with Thuram and Zidane at 34 within the finals while Makelele, and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet will probably be 33 and midfielder Sylvain Wiltord 32. The main obstacle supervisor Raymond Domenech has persisted is the younger iteration of gamers simply dont seem to be as much as the assignment which has compelled him to bring again the attempted and trusted stars of yesteryear.

Domenech has additionally overlooked the imaginative likes of Robert Pires and Johann Micoud with the a knowledge midfield, bar Zidane, of Makelele, Wiltord and Patrick Vieria looking out very static. Surely Zidane won't be able to be expected to do it all on his very own at this late degree of his occupation?

Despite the continual loss of midfield creativity, this years finals have to see the most productive of strike pairing Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet who have did not shine in old tournaments. In 17 World Cup appearances among them, they have collectively scored simply four objectives whilst Djibril Cisse has failed to rating in 3.

While on paper France nevertheless have global class credentials they can't be subsidized optimistically to succeed in this event. At odds-on they present very nearly no price to win and even qualify from Group G.

They play per chance their hardest warring parties Switzerland within the opening match and featuring they come out of it unscathed they are able to use it as a springboard to qualify for the remaining sixteen.

Recommended Bet

There is no value in backing France to win the team and even qualify from it at heavy odds-on given their conflict for qualification and inept performance four years in the past. They face Switzerland in their commencing healthy, a area they drew twice with in the course of the qualification activity and a different stalemate is the beneficial bet right here.

France vs Switzerland draw @ 9/4