France in 2009-10: A Season Preview

France will kick-off their new season in just less than three weeks' time with their qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa still hanging very much in the balance.

Runners-up in Germany three years ago, Raymond Domenech is still head coach despite an awful performance at Euro 2008 which saw his side exit at the first hurdle, gaining only one draw from their three group games in the process.

Yet Domenech was given a stay of execution and still finds himself in a job despite his side’s equally poor start to World Cup Qualifying. The situation has been somewhat rectified with a pair of recent wins over Lithuania, but France still only find themselves in second place in Group 7, a massive eight points behind leaders Serbia albeit with two games in hand.

With everything still to do if they are to ensure automatic qualification for South Africa next summer, France recommence their qualifying campaign in mid-August when they travel to the North Atlantic Ocean to take on the Faroe Islands.

France will next welcome Romania to the Stade de France at the start of September eager to better the 2-2 draw they salvaged from two goals down in Constanta last October.

Crucially Serbia are not in action while France play these two fixtures so Domenech’s side have the opportunity to draw themselves to within two points of the leaders, having played the same number of games.

Four days later and France will then travel to Belgrade for what will undeniably be the crunch game of the group. Les Bleus beat their main rivals 2-1 in Paris last September and would need a repeat victory in order to leapfrog Serbia at the top of the group if they have indeed picked up maximum points in their two previous games.

France will round-off their campaign back home with two games in October, as first the Faroe Islands visit before they host Austria four days later.

Therefore, it is clear that France will have their work cut out if they are to achieve their aim of topping the section and avoiding the lottery of the play-offs, and will almost certainly require five wins out of five if they are to do so.

As of yet France have, perhaps wisely, not confirmed any friendly fixtures for November when the play-offs for the second-placed European teams will take place.

As things stand France will find themselves in competitive action once more in November as they would face a two-legged play-off for one of the last places in South Africa.

The only friendly fixture currently confirmed for France in 2010 is at the beginning of March when they will take on European champions Spain at the Stade de France. Domenech will be extremely hopeful that this match will be a part of his side’s preparations for their trip to South Africa three months later.

It will be the 30th meeting between the two sides with Spain taking the honours last time out in February 2008 when Joan Capdevila scored the only goal of the game in Malaga.

Spain currently lead by a single victory, 12 to 11, with six draws, but France have won seven of the last ten meetings including a 3-1 victory in the second round of the 2006 World Cup.

Depending on the outcome of their qualifying campaign France will play a couple of friendlies at the end of May. These games will either serve as preparation for Domenech’s side’s campaign in South Africa or as an early chance for a new manager to work with his players should the qualifying campaign end in failure.

France’s Fixtures for 2009-2010 Season

(as announced so far)

Wed 12 Aug      Faroe Islands vs. France World Cup Qualifier

Sat 5 Sept         France vs. Romania       World Cup Qualifier

Wed 9 Sept       Serbia vs. France           World Cup Qualifier

Sat 10 Oct        France vs. Faroe Islands World Cup Qualifier

Wed 14 Oct       France vs. Austria          World Cup Qualifier

Wed 3 March     France vs. Spain            Friendly

World Cup Qualifying, European Group 7 Current Standings

                        P          PTS

1. Serbia           7          18

2. France          5          10

3. Lithuania       7          9

4. Austria          6          7

5. Romania        6          7

6. Faroe Islands 5          1