International friendly preview: England v France
What with the cold wind blowing and more than a hint of a chill in the air, it can be easy to forget the summer at the moment. How these two want to do that.
England and France had terrible, farcical World Cups. Although on the face of it, France’s tournament made England’s look quite good.
On the pitch, the French played out an uninspiring goalless draw with Uruguay before losing to Mexico and South Africa, but it was off the field of play where the majority of the headlines were made. Everything, from Raymond Domenech’s initial squad, the quite startling level of unprofessionalism from the French players who boycotted training – led by captain Patrice Evra – and Domenech’s final act of bewildering arrogance in refusing to shake South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s hand was hugely embarrassing for the 1998 winners and 2006 runners-up. That was in the past though, and so surely the only way is up, right? Even for those who watched on in horror from afar.
“I wasn’t there at the World Cup,” said Samir Nasri, in impressive form for Arsenal this season and all set to win his 19th cap for new coach Laurent Blanc’s side at Wembley. “But it doesn’t mean I’m not aware of what a nightmare it was for the fans and the players and for all of us.
“The events in South Africa are still etched in the memories of some of those individuals who took part but everyone is dedicating themselves to the future and to matches which are coming up.
“It’s mainly the media that is harking back to the World Cup. It’s about putting all that behind us now.”
They are not alone. England’s players will share Nasri’s sentiments, especially one player in particular who missed the tournament in South Africa and is now out to make up for lost time. The skipper wants his success at club level to be repeated on the international stage.
“The mentality at Manchester United comes from the confidence of winning,” understated Rio Ferdinand, back in the England fold following his recent battles with injury.
“Winning things would help. But we at England have to get into the situation to win things. And the truth is, we haven't. Finding the formula, you could say, is part of management. The manager has it at Manchester United.
“You look at the game on Saturday [against Aston Villa]. We're down, he sends on two attacking players and that puts you on the front foot. You respond to that. It stems from the manager, you don't want to go into the dressing room and face him if you've left something on the pitch.
“But that said, it's not just management. Up till now as players we've not done our bit. There's no hiding from that.”
So ‘be as scary as Sir Alex Ferguson’ should be at the top of Fabio Capello’s to do list then, as a manager who once commanded respect effortlessly digests the latest advice dished out to him by one of his players.
He’s got a few new ones in this squad though, with the England debut of the lively Andy Carroll as eagerly anticipated as any in recent memory. The Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer will be joined in the starting lineup by fellow north-easterner Jordan Henderson – fresh from helping Sunderland to that stunning win at Chelsea on Sunday – while Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs stands by for a second cap. Cardiff’s Jay Bothroyd and Manchester United’s Chris Smalling will watch on from the bench in the hope of tasting their first international action.
Many of the usual suspects are still there too though, but the usual low-key approach to friendlies will be present as well.
Both England and France are slowly beginning to come out of their summer slumbers, just don’t expect them to do so with a bang here. A draw suits both.
Prediction: England 1 France 1
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