World Cup 2010: France Squad

France coach Raymond Domenech has never been a popular man even in his own country and is looked at with much disdain as he continues to underachieve with the otherwise brilliant squad. But we cannot help but forget that this is the same Raymond Domenech who guided the team last year to victories over Brazil and Portugal and was well on course for a spectacular World Cup victory back in 2006. But since then, his stock has fallen considerably and a couple of selection gaffes which included leaving out two of the most brilliant French footballing prospects and that shameful playoff victory followed by a defeat to Spain in France, all mean that the demanding French fans are asking for his head. And his massively-eyebrowed head they will have at the end of the World Cup 2010. But does he have an ace up his sleeve for his final act as the French coach?

Well a good squad is the best ace a coach can have and there is no doubt that the squad Domenech has assembled is littered with talent. Eccentric Fabian Barthez is gone and ably replaced by Lyon's Hugo Lloris, the man who continues to be asked about by some of the biggest clubs in the world.

The defense looks to be in great shape as well. And while Domenech continues to ask for the services of the oft moody and surly William Gallas of Arsenal for the World Cup 2010, he will be relying ever so much on Barcelona's Eric Abidal for defensive cover. The good news is that Patrice Evra of Manchester United and Bakary Sagna of Arsenal are in good form to perform their defensive duties admirably.

Knowing that the heart of the defense is sort of weak, Domenech does the right thing picking two very good holding midfielders in Jeremy Toulalan of Lyon while maintaining the Arsenal-ness of the side by also picking Abou Diaby. Alou Diarra of Bordeaux a fairly versatile player who can play both as a holding midfielder and a centerback too travels with the squad for the World Cup 2010. On the flip side, you have Chelsea's Florent Malouda who is in smashing form of late with Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich and the superb Yoann Gourcuff of Bordeaux to take the ball forwards.

But it is the French attack which represents their greatest strength. Apart from the fact that Patrice Evra has terrific attacking instincts and that Ribery, Malouda and Gourcuff are world-class attackers in their own right, Domenech spoils himself further by picking the ex-Arsenal pair of Barcelona's unsettled Thierry Henry and Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka. Backing them up will also be Andre Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, Sidney Govou of Lyon who comes on the back of another good season ex-Liverpool weirdo Djibril Cisse currently with Panathinaikos.

Final Squad of 23 for the World Cup 2010

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux)

Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla)

Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Coach: Raymond Domenech.

The smart thing Domenech has done here is to realize that he doesn't have much to boast about in the defense, so he's gone for an out-and-out attacking squad. Can they mount a challenge for the World Cup 2010? Watch this space...