A lot has been written about the current transitional state of the French national football team. Yet looking at the emerging talent at their disposal it would seem that they might well leave this transition stronger than ever before. Indeed their ever prolific academy system continues to produce world class players year on year.
Interestingly the most efficient and watched academy Clairefontaine, is in fact just one of nine such academies. A fact which puts to shame the English Football Association’s bungled attempts at establishing the National Football Centre. Each geographical region has an academy taking the cream of youth players from the area for up to two years at the age of 13. When they have finished their education, footballing and otherwise, they are highly sought after by the French professional teams, indeed some are already linked with clubs before enrolment.
France has in recent years produced some of the most exciting talent in Europe’s top leagues, and given us players like Zidane, Henry, Cantona, Ginola, Vieira, Thuram and many more to enjoy. Since these players have gone though, the national team has seen a sharp decline. Though with players like the fleet footed Franck Ribéry and the ever reliable Patrice Evra adding experience to the following six young talents surely a future challenging for silverware beckons.
Karim Benzema – already an established star, the 21 year old Olympique Lyonnais goal machine has proven himself prolific in front of goal in Ligue 1 and the Champions League and has already notched up 5 goals and 20 caps for Les Bleus. A tall and powerful forward with exceptional technical ability and a real goal scoring instinct he has been linked with just about every major team in Europe.
Yoann-Gourcuff
Yoann Gourcuff – owned by AC Milan but on loan to Bordeaux for this season, he has carved a reputation as an elegant and exciting attacking midfielder. One of many dubbed the ‘Next Zidane’ he has a similar playing style, beats players with ease, constantly improvises and scores spectacular goals – see his strikes against PSG and Toulouse earlier in the season. One of the best emerging creative players in the game.
Samir Nasri – another young attacking midfielder with a busier style than Gourcuff, yet just as effective in it’s own way. Now learning under the expert tutelage of Arsène Wenger at Arsenal after coming through the youth teams of Marseille. Of Algerian descent and growing in Marseille he faced the inevitable comparisons with Zidane, despite being a very different type of player. With his pace and trickery and Gourcuff’s guile France have a potentially devastating midfield going forward.
Younousse Sankharé – a little younger than the others, 19 year old Sankharé played regularly for Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year. He demonstrated sound positional sense, great strength in the tackle and good distribution. He has been loaned out to former French powerhouse Stade Reims for the remainder of this season but looks an exceptional prospect. His two way dynamism rekindles memories of a young Vieira but will he fit into the national team with Lassana Diarra having established himself at Real Madrid this season? Time is on his side.
Sébastien Bassong – a tall, powerful and frighteningly fast centre half that has been touted as the find of the English Premier League season. He has had more defending to do than most – being at struggling Newcastle United – yet has acquitted himself wonderfully. The Clairefontaine graduate has shown good judgement and consistency at the back, not prone to the errors that have plagued former Newcastle defenders before him. Should they go down a move is almost certain, with Arsenal apparently leading the queue.
Jérémy Menez – a wonderfully talented and exciting player to watch. Now at AS Roma in Italy having been developed by first Sochaux, then Monaco. With the ball at his feet, anything can happen, an enigmatic player who can have the crowd on it’s feet every time he touches the ball. If he can find the consistency to go with his undoubted talent then the sky is the limit for this trequartista, the perfect number 10.
There are many more talented young French players blossoming elsewhere in Europe that will no doubt come into national team reckoning as well. Feel free to add your own tips and mini-biographies as you see fit.
Despite the current wobble in their form there should be no doubt that they will have a strong team in the coming years, and that with the right leadership and tactics can challenge as before, if nothing else they will be entertaining to watch given the amount of attacking talent at their disposal.
Written by Steve Atkinson
