France FIFA World Cup 2010 preparations
French 30 man football squad arrived in the mountain retreat in Tignes in the French Alps; to prepare for the upcoming World Cup. Players started their bicycle ride, which took them to the thin mountain air, which they hope will help them prepare for global domination in South Africa.
The France players were planning on climbing the Grande Motte glacier overlooking the resort, the training is a traditional week long exercise in the French Alps Ski village.
This is not the first time that the French have resorted to such unusual training regime. Back in 2006 they took part in a similar exercise, just prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which saw them go all the way to the final. Now was it down to the preparations, or purely due to the player’s ability? It can’t be said, but the team coach Raymond Domaniqe believes that the rigorous regime helps bring the team together.
France who are former world and European champions, were knocked out of the Euro Cup in 2008, and 6 years before that in the 2002 World Cup when they were the defending champions. They were knocked out of the tournament in group stage, an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Senegal was the major season for their exit, and the progress to final in 2006 World Cup has been the only saving grace in an otherwise disappointing time for French football.
While the team never lacked stars or talent, but by the look of a well gelled team has been missing. Individual brilliance no matter how good a player may be can never be an alternate to team play. The fans who understandably expect a lot more from their team have been disappointed for a while now, as France are not even among the favourites to lift the trophy in the upcoming World Cup, and as mentioned earlier there is no lack of talent. Moreover to make them play together as a team the Tignes camp may just be what they need to spend some time together as a team and heal their wounded pride.
The spirits of the players already seems to be on the up, Patrice Evra who is n integral part of French Squad, playing as a left Full back believes his team has no other objective but to win the world cup,
"We have to help each other out. We're all rowing in the same boat and our boat is to win the World Cup. I have told you -- I say this looking in your eyes, that I'm going to South Africa to win this World Cup,”
Mathieu Valbuena, who has not yet played a single match for the national team, said: "Me, I'm here with a lot of determination and I will be determined to do as well as possible, to do the maximum on the field as I do at Olympique Marseille."
France will be facing, Uruguay, Mexico and hosts South Africa in group A, and on paper they should not have too many problems making it past the group stage at least, and if the team can play to their potential, they should be strong contenders of at least making it to the semi finals.
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