Who are France's next generation?

[BenP]

Although this tournament is still going on, and France could well still qualify for the the 16 - and perhaps go further with luck and so forth - it is clear that subsequent will not - and probably should not - feature a good number of the players on the current squad.

For the European qualifiers and such, when I think France needs a new coach and a new injection of players. And they should stick with them, even if things go poorly in qualifiers.

Firstly, it seems to me that Domenech should go. We know Zidane is retiring. Wiltord, Thuram, and Makelele have also are likely playing some of their last games for France. But who else will be going? Dhirasoo seems a likely candidate. Barthez as well.

But who to bring in? A lot of the controversy in the current tournament revolves around the non-inclusion of players - like Anelka and Giuly - who aren't exactly new or young. France does have a lot of promising young players - however, most seem to be defenders and midfielders. For example, Lasana Diarra at Chelsea, Matthieu Flamini at Arsenal, Francois Clerc at Lyon, maybe Ben Arfa or Benzema at OL as well. I don't know the French league that well, but it strikes me that the France is deeper at the back and in midfield than upfront, with a cursory knowledge of young players outside the team. Then again, Cisse is still quite young - but his injuries raise serious concerns. Maybe Henry will still be in great shape. I think he might be. But he isn't going to want to keep playing for a side coached like this one.

Anyway, I'd be interested in the thoughts on these questions from people who are closer observers of French football than I have been.

[ribery57]

Mathieu Bodmer, and Toulalan are good defensive midfielders.

As a goalkeeper i would choose Yohann Pelé or Bracigliano. Maybe Landreau will be given his chance.

I would pick Mexès who was great this season with the Roma, and maybe Faty and Clerc.

[ilv2]

don't forget frey, although i haven't followed him in a while

sinima-pongolle is a good talent at 'pool right now, and he had a great loan spell at blackburn (setting up 6-7 goals I believe)

There's loads of talent there, but I'm not sure if bringing them all out for the Euros would be a good idea. The midfield however, is definately getting a major overhaul.

[BenP]

don't forget frey, although i haven't followed him in a while

sinima-pongolle is a good talent at 'pool right now, and he had a great loan spell at blackburn (setting up 6-7 goals I believe)

There's loads of talent there, but I'm not sure if bringing them all out for the Euros would be a good idea. The midfield however, is definately getting a major overhaul.

Interesting about S-P. I saw him play - on TV - for Liverpool in '04-05 and he looked good. However, he seems to be languishing a bit there because of all the signings at forward they've made. Might be good for him to get transfered to a slightly lower EPL side?

BTW, what about LaTellec? It strikes me he will have a good, unspectatuclar career in La Championnat with the odd cap for France, but nothing more.

[BenP]

What about Benzema or Ben Arfa? Have any OL fans seen them play consistently? Might they choose Tunisia/Algeria?

[SportBoy333]

Ronald Zubar who just signed for Marseille from Caen is someone else that deserves mentioning.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Well we have Pongolle, Pagis and Le Tallac upfront who can possibly develop in to some class talent.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

What about Benzema or Ben Arfa? Have any OL fans seen them play consistently? Might they choose Tunisia/Algeria?
I doubt it if France comes calling.

[SportBoy333]

Yoann Gourcuff is a great talent.

[Metropolitan]

We are in a strong group for the Euro qualifying round. If I remember correctly, only the two first are qualified and we play against Italy, Ukraine and Scotland.

I wouldn't consider the Euro as an objective for our team. We need to rebuild something, and if we fail to qualify because our players are not used yet to play together, than that would be sad but so be it. The objective is the World Cup 2010. That means that we need a real coach who would lead the French team during 4 years straight... Something which have never happened since Lemerre.

There are many people who could do a nice job : Le Guen, Houiller, Deschamps, or even Wenger even if I don't expect him to accept that job.

As for the players, well, it all depends how they evolve, but personally I would keep Abidal and Malouda on the left wing, Ribéry and Sagnol on the right wing, and I would give a chance to Saha upfront. I'm not even sure I would actually keep Henry, as he's 28 currently and will be 32 for next World Cup. The team should learn early to play together. That means 4 years before the World Cup.

[BenP]

Well we have Pongolle, Pagis and Le Tallac upfront who can possibly develop in to some class talent.

You really think so about La Tallec? He's basically been languishing for a while now. Or has he had some good loan spells recently I'm not aware of?

Another name who used to seem a good prospect was Aliadiere at Arsenal, although he seems to have run into some difficulties.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

le tallac has struggled of L'pool, last season granted, but he still has to potential, i wouldn't count him out yet. As for Aliadiere I can't really say right, not enough 1st team football, disastrious last season, (injuries, underutilised, the whole speil). He needs to leave arsenal to get some regular play or he's finished.

[BenP]

We are in a strong group for the Euro qualifying round. If I remember correctly, only the two first are qualified and we play against Italy, Ukraine and Scotland.

I wouldn't consider the Euro as an objective for our team. We need to rebuild something, and if we fail to qualify because our players are not used yet to play together, than that would be sad but so be it. The objective is the World Cup 2010. That means that we need a real coach who would lead the French team during 4 years straight... Something which have never happened since Lemerre.
.

I agree. That's why I am saying the team should stick to a longer term goal even if the game in, game out results are always great.

[Nanbawan]

Jimmy Briand can be mentionned. Anelka is still quite young (1979). And yeah, I think Gourcuff may be thrown in the group but maybe some of the WC 06 rejects will constitute a launching pad for the younger guys. That's what we need to do, try and incorporate the newcomers as constructively as possible.

[Metropolitan]

Jimmy Briand can be mentionned. Anelka is still quite young (1979). And yeah, I think Gourcuff may be thrown in the group but maybe some of the WC 06 rejects will constitute a launching pad for the younger guys. That's what we need to do, try and incorporate the newcomers as constructively as possible.Things can be done indeed a lot more naturally that we can assume. There's no need for a one day revolution.

Zidane, Thuram and Vieira will all be out of the national team at the end of this world cup, because of their age. I think it would be good if Makelele would stay a bit in the first qualifying games to make a transition, but he'll never play the Euro 2008. Those players should be replaced by youngsters, not by 29 year-old players. By youngsters I mean players you can hope will still be there at their top level in 2010. Even if I know that you never know, that's what next coach should have in mind when he'll have to think about how rebuilding the team for next september.

[Nanbawan]

The irony being that one of the main arguments for chosing Domenech at the time was his experience with managing young players...

[schafer]

Interesting about S-P. I saw him play - on TV - for Liverpool in '04-05 and he looked good. However, he seems to be languishing a bit there because of all the signings at forward they've made. Might be good for him to get transfered to a slightly lower EPL side?

BTW, what about LaTellec? It strikes me he will have a good, unspectatuclar career in La Championnat with the odd cap for France, but nothing more.


Sinama-Pongolle was very impressive the season before Rafa joined Liverpool, but he was given precious few chances under Benitez (he scored in the CL run I believe, in the group stages) due to the single striker system L'pool uses. His loan spell at Blackburn was excellent, he partnered very well with Bellamy, scored a few (including a great diving header) and set a few up as well. He's got great pace, is a good finisher and has good technique, from what I've seen of him, although he's a bit lightweight. He could be very good in the future, though.

As for Le Tallec, one of the only times he played for Liverpool last year was in the CL tie against Juve (I believe it was Le Tallec), where he played very well. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to fit in English football, and I think it hurt his career.

Lassana Diarra was mentioned earlier, and from what I've seen of him, he definitely looks like a Makelele replacement. Same build, same position, same style of playing. And who better to be his mentor than Maka himself? J. Cole recently said that Diarra was one of the better players in training for Chelsea, and given Maka's age, I imagine Diarra will get significantly more playing time for Chelsea this season.

Another player not mentioned is Charles N'Zogbia at Newcastle. A bit inconsistent, but he showed glimpses of what he's capable of earlier in the season. Very promising left-sided midfielder.

[ilv2]

I doubt it if France comes calling.

really? they've (and more specifically Ben Arfa) been part of our victorious u-21 squad, so I don't see why not.

[chapulin]

What about Camel Meriem? I seen him play awhile ago and I was quite impressed. Although, you guys probably know more about him than me, and it could have just been his lucky day.


Also, I've been wanting to find out: Is Aime Jacquet willing to ever coach again?

[jpatel1508]

Gael Clichy and maybe Diaby in the future.