Fulham playmaker Steed Malbranque has the perfect stage, in the F.A. Cup
quarter-finals to send a message to his country's National coach.
However the phrase traditionally associated with angry bouncers on a Friday
or Saturday night, "If your name's not down, you're not coming in."
could just as easily apply to the management of the French national team.
The only difference is that Roger Lemerre is running an exclusive football
club – one which, like its more famous cousin the exclusive nightclub,
is damn near impossible to gain membership of.
Just ask Steed Malbranque of Fulham, one of the Premiership's most consistent
midfielders, who has helped his promoted team reach mid-table security in
the League as well as the quarter-finals of the FA Cup against West Brom
today. Malbranque is one of a growing list of players – including the
likes of Newcastle's Laurent Robert, Nantes' Mickael Landreau, Chelsea's
William Gallas, West Ham's Frédéric Kanouté, Leeds'
Olivier Dacourt, Parma's Sabri Lamouchi, and Auxerre's Djibril Cissé
to name but a few – who are playing the best football of their careers,
but cannot force their way into their country's plans. Conversely, there
are a number of internationals who have been struggling for form or have
failed to break into their club sides, and yet are assured of their place.
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Fulham French International midfielder Steed
Malbranque celebrates another goals for Fulham
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The swanky French club, otherwise referred to as
Les Bleus, was formed
by a generation of footballers who, having been abandoned by their country's
supporters and media in the early Nineties, decided to stick together in
the hope that results would eventually follow. They did, of course, and
in spectacular fashion. First, a semi-final defeat on penalties at Euro
96 in England; then the crowning moment at the World Cup in France four
years ago; before the European Championship was added to the collection
in the Low Countries in 2000. Not bad for a squad who were successively
labelled by the French press as "a bunch of losers", "a bunch
of bores", and "a bunch of no-hopers".
The problem with clubs becoming successful is that they attract the attention
of outsiders who want a taste of the action. By the same token, the founding
fathers are usually reluctant to allow any new members to join their ranks.
No fewer than 17 of the 22 who won Euro 2000 are expected to be in Japan
and South Korea. "It's true that there is an élitism problem,
but there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do," says Vincent
Duluc, the football correspondent of the French sports daily L'Equipe.
"How can you criticise the World and European champions? We're all
too scared."
The players, too, are afraid to speak out. Malbranque, who has represented
France at every level since he was 13 and is tipped for senior honours,
is naturally cautious not to antagonise the French management. "Apart
from my club duties, I have the Under-21 European Championship in May
to look forward to," he says, before adding that the World Cup is
an unrealistic target. "There are just too many players ahead of
me in the pecking order."
These include two Frenchmen in excellent form, Zinedine Zidane and Robert
Pires, as well as two who are having seasons to forget, Bolton's Youri
Djorkaeff and Bordeaux's Christophe Dugarry. "However well I play,
there is no way I will be picked at the expense of the guys who have been
part of the group for years," Malbranque says. "This is an established
set, and I don't think any youngster will be given their chance until
after the summer. But that's normal to a certain extent. These players
have remained very close and have been very successful. You can't suddenly
ask them to pack their bags."
Christian Damiano, who was part of France's back-room staff for the 1998
World Cup before joining Jean Tigana at Fulham almost two years ago, agrees
with his protégé. "I have known Steed since he was
a young teenager," Damiano says, "and I can tell you that he
is destined to do great things. For a 22-year-old, he is incredibly complete:
he works hard, he's willing to progress, and he can pass and score from
central midfield. He is Fulham's Gianfranco Zola; and one day he will
be France's new Zidane. But for now, he has no choice but to wait his
turn with the national team."
While no one can argue with France's recent results, critics of the set-up
feel that too many talented Frenchmen are being denied the chance of representing
their country because the old guard refuse to be budged. Cissé
is Le Championnat's top scorer and the subject of interest from Liverpool
and Arsenal, but the Auxerre striker will not go to the Far East. "The
greatest concern that I have ahead of the World Cup," Duluc says,
"is that France will enter the tournament with too many players in
their thirties. If we're not careful, we could end up with a similar situation
to Germany at USA 94. That team were too old and were eliminated in the
quarter-finals. So far as Lemerre's concerned, though, it's better to
have an older and more experienced player than a young and naïve
one. I'm not so sure."
In many ways, it is difficult to blame the likes of Marcel Desailly,
33, Djorkaeff, 34, Christian Karembeu, 31, Bixente Lizarazu, 33, Emmanuel
Petit, 32, and Frank Leboeuf, 34, for wanting to prolong the French fairytale.
They were the ones who picked up the pieces after Gérard Houllier's
team failed to qualify for USA 94. They also implemented the Aimé
Jacquet revolution. "The key players, who gave their all when things
were going badly, are bound to want one more experience together,"
Damiano says. "They have been through so much that they want one
more go. Is it a tournament too far? We will see, but I think it is clear
the group will change after the summer."
Jacquet and Lemerre will primarily be remembered for discarding the more
individual talents such as Eric Cantona or David Ginola, and opting instead
for a strong unit. "Their policy worked," Duluc says. "France
were unbeaten for 30 matches leading up to Euro 96 and have remained incredibly
difficult to break down ever since. It's the defence that won the World
Cup. There was one wonderfully creative player called Zidane, but otherwise
this was a solid and reliable team; not a creative and expansive one."
By Euro 2000, the new manager had introduced a little more fire-power
and France were better equipped to score goals. But the reality is that
they still based their success on sound defending. "And luck,"
Duluc insists. "Just think, apart from the 3-0 World Cup final win
against Brazil, France's last eight knockout matches have been won thanks
to golden goals, penalty kicks, missed penalties, and two goals from a
defender [Lilian Thuram in the semi-finals of France 98] who had never
scored before and has never scored since."
Perhaps this charmed life explains why Les Bleus are so close-knit. "Even
when they are a goal down with 10 seconds to play," Duluc adds, "this
generation always believe deep down they are going to win." Until they
are proved wrong, the club door will remain firmly shut and the likes of
Steed Malbranque will have to wait patiently.