Bienvenue France, I Am So Glad You Could Make It

There is no denying that drama follows les Bleus. Henry and his hand, Gallas and the go-cart, and Ribery's romance have lead many to predict an early exit for France at South Africa. Any of these sidebars, not to mention the Raymond Domenech saga, could become the distraction that sours the team's preparations. However, nothing changes the depth of quality in the French squad. Two club teams, Lyon & Bordeaux, had excellent runs in the just completed Champions League. And, unlike eventual winners Inter Milan who did not start a single Italian player in the final, homegrown talent formed the core of both of the French clubs. In Yoann Gourcuff, France may have a potential playmaking heir to Zidane. Ribery, who missed the CL final, will be keen to show the positive side of his explosiveness. On the other flank, Malouda will be coming off a fine season at Chelsea, linking up with clubmate and prolific scorer Anelka. Of course, Thierry Henry is still capable of magic with his feet, too. France also possesses a solid backline, anchored by Hugo Lloris in goal, and likely to feature Evra, Gallas, Abidal and Clichy of ManU, Arsenal, Barcelona and Arsenal respectively. The remainder of the squad comes from the strong Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux clubs that have dominated the domestic scene in recent years. With this level of talent and athleticism, the 2010 squad, much like the last Zizou-inspired vintage, will surprise the world.