France are a team that knows what it takes to win this tournament having done so on two previous occasions, they have a good backroom staff and despite some of the internal squabbles all of the cogs are there to make the team tick if they want too. Now I have heard of people saying England will do well yet they will lose to the French in the group stage which seems an odd way to look at the game but if that’s the case then the French might just get a good run to the final.
In terms of the playing staff they have a solid defence which is anchored by the consistent and ever present captain and goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris. In the form of wing backs they have Evra and Clichy who have been in top form for their Premiership teams, they can both push an attacking threat away from goal and when they have the ball they can drive forward at pace and join the attack. They have a midfield that although not brimming with the talent of the victorious 2000 squad, they are solid and link up the play well, and in the forward positions there are players like Benzema and Ribery who are more that capable match winners on their day.
Then there is the man in the hot seat, manager Laurent Blanc, he is a man who knows what it takes to be successful as both a player and a manager and has won some of the biggest prizes in football, he has experience and makes his team tick and can fire some pride into the squad when they need it most.
Looking at the run up to the tournament you would have to say and animosity between players and staff has been forgotten as Les Blues have chalked up 18 games unbeaten which includes games against England and a 2-1 win in Germany, they are a form team and that is just what you need for competitions such as this.
France are currently 10/1 fifth favourites for the championship and although they may be worthy of that price they may still find their place in a tournament where there is always a surprise, (think Denmark 1992, Czech republic 1996 and Turkey 2008), I feel that they have the right package and it might just be that the French team get it together when they need it most.
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