Coming off its runner up finish in the 2006 World Cup, France only narrowly qualified for Euro 2008. The French found themselves in the same qualifying group as Italy, the team that defeated them to take home the 2006 World Cup title, but surprisingly the Italians did not pose the biggest threat. Scotland, however, beat France twice and almost earned the second spot in the group, but France was simply too strong.
Though legendary Frenchman Zinedine Zidane retired from international soccer after the World Cup, France still has veteran Thierry Henry (Barcelona) to provide leadership. To provide the rest of the scoring output, France will turn to Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) and Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), while William Gallas (Arsenal) will anchor the defense. France’s combination of veteran leadership and young talent will give it a good chance to avenge its World Cup and qualifying group losses to Italy.
Still, France will have stiff competition to advance past the group stage. Group C, with France, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania is stacked with good teams and is appropriately nicknamed the “Group of Death.” Any team could win it and France will need to be on top of its game if it wants to avoid the embarrassment of not reaching the quarterfinals.
Comments
France i think is the best team and i think should have won the world cup. Henry, Anelka, Coupet are all great players and the fans of France including me love watching great football from this great team
Posted by: kristian hill | June 5, 2008 07:18 PM
france all the way
Posted by: philip | June 5, 2008 07:41 PM
Im going to call it .......FRANCE vs Spain
Posted by: soccerphenom135 | June 5, 2008 09:18 PM
Allez Les Bleus!!!
Benzema, Gomis, Henry, Anelka, and Nasri will tear it up in the Euros, setting the stage for the 2010 World Cup!
Posted by: briguy | June 5, 2008 10:22 PM
allez la france
Posted by: ulrich | June 6, 2008 01:28 AM
France, even without the GREAT Zinedine Zidane plays the MOST attractive football in Europe. I think they can go all the way. Nobody has mentioned Ribary who is also a great play maker.
Posted by: DenisG2000 | June 6, 2008 10:18 AM
je jouer au foot
ill reponse:thierry henry cest thierry henry
Posted by: henry | June 6, 2008 07:47 PM
France u got no chance Vs. any other teams like Spain n Sweden!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: 4REST | June 7, 2008 10:00 PM
I think that I can lead France to victory!
Posted by: Frank Ribery | June 8, 2008 09:11 PM
France is my favorite international team.They many great footballers,i think they have a good chance to win the cup this year.But there are many great teams in this euro.Is goin to be a lovely euro to watch. VIVA FRANCIA.
Posted by: Jersson Castro | June 8, 2008 09:42 PM
Nasri, Benzema don't have experience like that level championchip, so they not very good like somebody write here. I qink france don't win EURO 08.
Posted by: Lithuania fan | June 9, 2008 04:32 AM
HENRY IS THE GREATEST
Posted by: Lionel Mesi | June 9, 2008 03:08 PM
I hope Italy wins the euro cup.
Posted by: lateef | June 10, 2008 02:56 AM
i think France are the best team to the win the cup with all their talents footballers. i wish dem the best. love france forever
Posted by: solskjaer 2ray | June 10, 2008 07:17 AM
France is pretty sic, but italy is amazing, sooo, ya france might make it through a bit but they dont really have it to win
Posted by: futbol | June 10, 2008 04:23 PM
PUT HENRY IN now, idc what his deal is, he needs to help out his country, the french cant hold the ball in the offensive 3rd of the field and it is killing them not havin the talent of theirry upfront
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2008 08:42 PM
Too bad Italy-France is in the early stages the two star-studded teams( the two oldest teams in the tournament)always provide a certain flair.....WHY ISN'T TREZEGUET & MEXES there ??????
Posted by: wolfen | June 10, 2008 09:55 PM
La France est l'equipe meillure dans la coupe de Europe. Vive La France et Allez Les Bleus!!
Posted by: Monsieur Geoffrey | June 11, 2008 05:13 PM
Mexes is injured and trezeguet wasnt picked... which is kind of stupid after the year he had in juventus, anelka is not really that good... i think escude should have been picked instead of boumsong... other than that it is a solid team pretty old... but solid.
Posted by: stephane | June 11, 2008 05:35 PM
allez les bleus
we need heart and a hell of a line-up
ribery needs all the support he can get
as well as henry; anelka is last minute sub as well as gomis, everyone keep up the nice work and make neat passes
domench smile for once
Posted by: GUSTAVO GALARZA | June 14, 2008 08:37 PM
Zidane is the king of soccer
Posted by: Zidane | June 16, 2008 12:46 AM
prancis gijil................!!!!!!!
Posted by: rena | June 16, 2008 01:49 PM
France is my favorite team, and it always the best team to me. All the players play so well,they are very good and polite. I wish them luck and win this cup.
Posted by: Mai ly | June 16, 2008 11:39 PM
France doesn't stand a chance against the Azzurri, they don't have the "link" to spark the game...Henry is good but Italy has more of a team spirit
Posted by: MUluv4evr0710 | June 17, 2008 12:33 PM
Domenech is a little messed up
Posted by: Julio | June 17, 2008 05:17 PM
well france lost today sorry guys
Posted by: Anonymous | June 17, 2008 08:16 PM
France is BEAST with everyone and still is.
Posted by: francisco b | June 18, 2008 11:47 PM
only becuase france lost to italy doesnt mean they cant beat them.wow? one penalty and a lucky goal.
Posted by: francisco b | June 18, 2008 11:50 PM
Les Blues = Les Choked.
Posted by: United Power | June 19, 2008 10:03 PM
Henry is the man.There is hope of victory for France.
Posted by: Chijioke Okechukwu B(okeizybest) | June 26, 2008 12:41 PM
FRANCE SUKS
Posted by: JOHN | June 28, 2008 10:33 PM
France will be back for the World Cup 2010!
Posted by: Didier | June 29, 2008 05:44 PM
IN FRENCH
La france a été battu par elle meme. Domenech a tué la France par ses choix; Comment a t'il pu laissé Benzema sur le banc contre la Hollande au profit de l'inexperience de GOMIS qui a été transparant durant les deux matchs qu'il a disputé. Maintenant place à un nouveau séléctionneur qui sera surement Didier Deschamps qui aura beaucoup de travail pour fonder un nouvelle équipe et pas une séléction française. Pour cela il pourra s'appuyer sur de jeunes talents comme Nasri, Ben Arfa, Ribéry ou encore Benzema. C'est une tache qui s'annonce compliquée car les tensions sont vives entre ces nouveaux talents. Le nouveau sélectionneur aura d'autres chantiers, le schéma tactique, les retraites de thuram, makéléle, et peut etre Sagnol et Henry.
La future équipe de France ressemblera à certainement à cela: Mandanda dans les buts. Evra, Mexes, Gallas eet Sagna en défense. Ribéry, Flamini, Viera et Nasri au milieu et Benzema et Henry ou Ben Arfa en défense.
ALLEZ LES BLEUS
Posted by: Thibault | July 1, 2008 06:47 PM
France is the most arrogant and sore loser team just because Italy kicked their rear ends in 2006 and in the euro cup... You guys have to go get over the fact that France is awful and Italy is better and the cahmpions of the world... in 2010 we will beat you guys again and then you guys will complain that it was unfair like that arrogant and obnoxious Domenech croissant... FORZA AZZURRI, FORZA NAPOLI AND WE ARE THE REAL BLUE'S, AND ROMA SUX
Posted by: France= kicked rear end by Italy | July 2, 2008 02:58 PM
haha france didnt make it out of the group hardeeharhar
Posted by: will | July 3, 2008 08:10 PM
ry is
henry is keeys 4 france olways henry
keep it up
Posted by: moha | July 4, 2008 07:24 PM
France sucks, plain and simple
Posted by: mophead | July 4, 2008 08:08 PM
i wouldn't go as far as to say they suck.after all,they've given us escargots,peugots,(which kinda sounds french for the females' genitalia,doesn't it?) & was the inspiration for deoderant.as far as soccer goes,your style is closest to italy's,which would explain why the matches between the teams are so close.however,when the smoke clears,there's only "1" true team in blue that stands out:the azzuri.
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | July 6, 2008 05:23 PM
hell yeah... but France is the worst and their such sore losers
Posted by: Anonymous | July 7, 2008 11:44 PM
ya i dont like france but my bro likes them i think spain is way better and they showed it when they won the euro hahahaha and thiery henry is not one the the best players!!
Posted by: alanalvarezmexican | July 12, 2008 03:20 PM
the 3 reasons why france sucks.#1 france sucks in the euro2008.#2 they missed a p.k. in the 2006 worldcup final.#3 they just plain suck!!!..............
Posted by: diego.a | July 14, 2008 11:43 PM
france, the dissapointing team in the tournament
Posted by: gentle | July 15, 2008 10:17 AM
iloveyourteam
Posted by: eto'o | July 16, 2008 01:59 PM
henry a hero of france will be good player next season at barocellona in spain. anyway do henry best ! all most of france soccer fans wish born again france soccer and his hero.
Posted by: we win | July 18, 2008 09:33 AM
this year at august in bejing olympic world soccer teams are Republica de Argentina Federative Republic of Brazil of south america Republic of Cameroon Republic of Cote d’Ivoire of africa Kingdom of the Netherlands Kingdom of Belgium Italian Republic servia of europe People's Republic of China Commonwealth of Australia South Korea japan of asia as we know all of world soccer is ended to this summer but in beijing olympic wait to world soccer fans we predict to winner of golden prize all most of people predict Federative Republic of Brazil Republica de Argentina will be winner of bejing olympic maybe we agree to we said and predicted anyway go to see bejing olympic this last summer soccer festival.
Posted by: winners | July 19, 2008 07:49 AM
francisco b, it was more that 1 penalty & a "lousy" goal.care to explain the world cup?
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | July 21, 2008 06:15 PM
italy could beet france anytime.
Posted by: sawyer | July 26, 2008 02:46 PM
france is a good team but spain is better
Posted by: tony | July 29, 2008 02:36 PM
ribery=fifa player of the year
Posted by: fernandinho | July 30, 2008 04:09 PM
i am abdu rahman .ilove france .My man
zenadene zidane is the best in soccer .
i wish he returns to soccer and boost
france in the next championship. i hate
that guy who cursed zidane.italy biggest
cheaters . I also love argentina,lionel
messi,saviola ,tevez ,crespo. my favorite players theirry onery ribbery robert carlos
ronaldo robinho ronaldinho eto adriano.
the best
Posted by: Abdu rahman yaghi | August 5, 2008 05:44 PM
france lost in 06 ha ha
!!!!! Italy Rules !!!!!
Posted by: Daniel | August 6, 2008 08:52 PM
hey,Abdu rahman yaghi.italy doesn't cheat.get your facts straight.the refs overlook the games,not the players.just because we beat france in the euro 2008 & world cup in '06,doesn't mean you can player hate.we win cuz we're good.PERIOD.you say you like argentina,huh?did you know half the team's ITALIAN OR ITALIAN ORIGIN?.i guess you were a fan of italy all along,but didn't realize it.welcome to the back end of the band wagon...
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | August 6, 2008 09:49 PM
france sucks spain rocks
Posted by: zach | August 7, 2008 11:46 AM
France is really great. I don't care what happened in the finals at the 2006 World Cup.
The Italians cheated throughout the game with the other countries.
Even if France doesnt't win this one there team lives on forever.
Allez le Bleus!
Posted by: Football de Marseille | August 8, 2008 12:34 PM
hey,Football de Marseille.if france is so great,why didn't thay make it out of the 1st round in the euro championship? are you that full of yourself that you have to write anything,even if it lacks substance,just to have some recognition? either you're that vain,naive or dumb.keep regurgitating the same b.s.& you might someday believe your lies.again,there's only "1" true blue...& that's azzuri. forza italia,chite murt!!!
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | August 8, 2008 04:17 PM
FIFA 2006: FRANCE RUNNERS-UP. EURO 2008:1ST ROUND, SEE THE DIFFRENCE, THE ONLY REASON FRANCE DIDN'T MAKE IT IN EURO 08 IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ZIDANE, WITHOUT HIM, FRANCE IS NOTHING.
Posted by: ?$% | August 14, 2008 10:43 AM
...plus the fact that italy showed them the door the last 2 times.
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | August 14, 2008 10:09 PM
france are the best
Posted by: antoine | August 21, 2008 06:54 AM
at what???
Posted by: Anonymous | August 22, 2008 12:34 AM
dont ask me
Posted by: soccer critic | August 29, 2008 01:36 PM
i think z zidine shold come back to the team
Posted by: abdiladif | August 29, 2008 10:37 PM
la france est la mellieure equipe du monde. henry, vierra, benzema, ben arfa, ribery, nasri, madanda, gallas, mexes, cisse, coupet,
sagna, flamini, et abidal. memme ci on nas pas gagne l'euro, on vas certainment gagner la coupe 2010. la france a des bons joueurs qui viennent de bonnes equipes. on na qu'as trouver du rythm, et un bon capitain. domenech doit les aider a battre ensemble.
Posted by: mathieu | August 30, 2008 09:45 PM
I think with Henrys superb talent along with Ribery they can avenge the eurocup by winning world cup 2010
Posted by: henry14 | August 30, 2008 10:16 PM
The italians are dirty dirty players, materazzi is a goof, allez les bleus! Allez Ribery and Henry! Domenech is weak for not selecting Trezeguet and for selecting so many young and inexperienced players. Him and Zidane need to come back. We all know that Zidane still trains. World Cup 2010 is the perfect oppurtunity for France to dominate. All you haters back up! Allez!
Posted by: Kory | August 31, 2008 11:59 PM
kory,take your medicine like a man & get in the back of the line.we beat you in the last 2 meaningful games,PERIOD.end of story.reaching in your grab of excuses isn't gonna get you closer to the truth.we had destiny on our side in '06.nobody,not even brazil of pathetic argentina,was gonna interfere with fate.
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | September 1, 2008 07:13 PM
p.s. materazzi did nothing different than what any other competitor has been doing:intimidation.he got underneath your boy's skin & he lost his head...in materazzi's chest.Zidane was selfish enough to put himself ahead of the team & took the bait.
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | September 1, 2008 07:19 PM
I like the italian players but france is a better team overall italy has no back that compares to abidal no sweeper to mexes no forward to henry or benzema no winger to RIBERY!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: France Owns | September 2, 2008 07:35 PM
please explain why we've beaten france the last 2 times if they're the better team?
Posted by: ITALY'S FAVORITE SON. | September 2, 2008 08:07 PM
VIVA FRANCIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mario Galdames | September 4, 2008 09:31 PM
France loses because of his manager. When Domenech is gone France will bright again and be the champion of the world (EURO AND WORLD CUP)
Posted by: Mario Galdames | September 4, 2008 09:33 PM
yeah...& monkeys fly out of my butt.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 5, 2008 05:06 PM
france doest have anything on mexico..mexico is going to win the world cup 2010!!!!!! we have the best forward in the world..cauctehmoc blanco and andres guardado is a beast..
Posted by: duudeee | September 15, 2008 12:45 PM
dude,you're smoking crack! what the hell's mexico EVER done?
Posted by: 1 who's not dilusional | September 15, 2008 11:33 PM
I THINK FRANCE IS THE MOST POWERFUL TEAM .
Posted by: p-co | September 20, 2008 10:00 PM
u think so? i got some swamp land in alaska i'd like to sell ya.
Posted by: what a joke | September 21, 2008 03:17 PM
I THINK FRANCE COACH GOT TO GO HE'S HAS BAD VISION......ONE THE WEAKS COACH IN THE WORLD..U HAVE GREAT PLAYERS I NAME SOME
Mathieu Bodmer
Hatem Ben Arfa
Jeremy Menez
Mikael Silvestre
Mathieu Flamini
TREZEGUET
T. HENRY IS UNFIT
anelka NOT GOOD ONLY OK
Posted by: LI-ONG | September 26, 2008 07:15 PM
France has a great squad they just need to know when to play certain people and when not to. I trust that in 2010 France will do an excellent job with Ribery Henry Benzema and Gallas
Posted by: Greatest soceer player 2 be | September 27, 2008 07:06 PM
don't dis france. they're pretty good. their best squad was in '06, but they can still be good later. italy's good too though.
Posted by: anonymous | October 14, 2008 08:51 PM
france is the best becasue Zidane the best soccer player and he is a muslim. France wolud been the first but one man mad zidane mad so he head but him. Zidane is the best i like zidane. France rocks and it wrolls it is the best in the world
Posted by: Mohamed Ali Saleh | October 20, 2008 10:10 PM
فرنسا هي أفضل بسبب زيدان أفضل لاعب كرة قدم وانه مسلم. أن فرنسا كانت أول رجل واحد ولكن مرض جنون جنون زيدان انه حتى رئيس ولكن له. زيدان هو أفضل وأحب زيدان. فرنسا الصخور وأنه هو الافضل في العالم
Posted by: Saleh Muzayad | October 20, 2008 10:13 PM
I hope & pray that france make it to the 2010 world cup, they will need a lot of help to qualify.. My heart is still with the. good luck & hope to see them there...
Posted by: frenchy | October 22, 2008 06:50 PM
France is winning the world cup this year!!!
Posted by: Jacob Rector | October 24, 2008 09:59 AM
France.. Dandy :)
Posted by: www.soccer.com | March 26, 2011 11:54 AM
France.. Awesome :)
Posted by: www.soccer.com | April 22, 2011 06:25 AM
France.. Keen :)
Posted by: www.soccer.com | June 2, 2011 05:18 PM
France.. Nice :)
Posted by: www.soccer.com | June 4, 2011 05:39 PM
France.. Awful :)
Posted by: dkb6 porno 7nlm | July 1, 2011 11:23 PM
I dont disagree with this blog!
Posted by: Dripable | November 10, 2011 05:09 PM