France Football Formation

Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Fabien Barthez · Laurent Blanc · Marcel Desailly · Bixente Lizarazu · Lilian Thuram · Jean Tigana · Patrick Vieira · Michel Platini (c) · Zinedine Zidane · Raymond Kopa · Thierry Henry

France's Greatest XI of All Time

Football, in France, for a long time wasn't all that popular – at least compared to the sport’s overwhelming popularity in many other European nations. The French traditionally cherished the finer arts more than less cultured activities such as kicking against a ball.

All that changed in summer of 1998. In June and July of that year, the French won the World Cup. On home soil. Football’s status in France received a major boost.

It’s only logical then that much of 1998′s team will feature in a France All-Time Best XI. But there have been two other excellent French generations. The one from the 50′s with Kopa and Fontaine, for instance. And, of course, the one in the 80′s with the Carré Magicque starring Platini. And we shouldn’t forget players from other era’s: Cantona, Ginola, Papin, Pires, Ribéry, Makélelé and others – all of whom were genuine world class.

The formation chosen is a 4-2-3-1 to suit France’s best three players of all time.


Goalkeeper ~ Fabien Barthez
Not exactly Mr. Reliable, as many Man United fans would surely agree, but Fabien Barthez had his moments. The best of which came while guarding the goal of Les Bleus. Thanks to his saves and celebrations, Barthez became somewhat of an iconic figure for the ultra successful 1998 and 2000 France side. Besides, there isn’t much competition. Joel Bats, the ‘keeper in Hidalgo’s era, was hardly the best goalie in the world either.

Right back ~ Liliam Thuram
France may not have had the best goalkeeper in history, but it certainly had one of the best right backs the game has ever seen. Lilian Thuram had everything anyone would want in a modern right back. Stamina. Power. Speed. And unlike many of today’s best side backs – Thuram was actually an excellent defender. Moreover, Thuram completed an astounding 142 games for France. Manuel Amoros can’t complain about being benched.

Right central defender ~ Marcel Desailly
Desailly was born in Ghana to a Ghanese woman, but due to his father’s French nationality, young Marcel acquired a French passport as well. The French must still be grateful for this stroke of coincidence. Desailly played a crucial part in that unconquerable defense of France ’98. Powerful, but also capable enough on the ball that he regualrly played in midfield for AC Milan. Desailly remains one of the few players who was a sesation in both the Italian Serie A and the English Premier League. His 116 caps aren’t too shabby either. Marius Tresor is the reserve.

Left central defender ~ Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc, with his 192 cm, nearly matched Thuram and Desailly in terms of physical power, but along with that, had the vision and leadership befitting a libero. Played 97 games for France, many of them as captain. Scored the golden goalin the 1998 quarter-final against Paraguay. Comfortably surpasses the 50′s star Jonquet.

Left back ~ Bixente Lizarazu
The rock at the left, and destroyer of opposition attack forming in the left, and have enormous club as well as national success. Lizarazu is without doubt consistency personified, making it hard to deny him this spot. Takes the nodge over Patrice Evra and others.

Right defensive midfielder ~ Patrick Vieira
The defensive midfield positions are, by far, the toughest ones to fill. In some ways, it’s hard to argue with Didier Deschamps. He was the captain of the 1998 team and completed over a 100 caps. But then what to do with Vieira, Arsenal’s supreme leader? Makelele, the anchor man of Madrid and Chelsea? What to do with those fabulous members of the Magic midfield from the 1980′s like Luis Ferdandez or Jean Tigana? Considering that Deschamps was, as Cantona once described him, a ‘water-carrier’ at best – and the same can be said of Makekele and Fernandez – my picks for these spots are Vieira and Tigana. Both were excellent in defense, but also had plenty of offensive abilities. Vieira had his power and his inspirational drive forward. Tigana had his technique and vision.

Left defensive midfielder – Jean Tigana
See previous comment.

Left attacking midfielder ~ Zinedine Zidane
A wizard with the ball. Unmatched by perhaps any player in history when it comes to sheer control over the ball in any situation. Despite his heavy built and lack of explosive speed, Zidane managed to beat defenders again and again simply by using their speed against themselves. Similar, in a sense, to a martial artist master. David Ginola has flair in his own right, but he can’t compare to Zizou.

Central attacking midfielder ~ Michel Platini
Zidane or Platini? The debate in France still rages. Zidane takes the crown in terms of ball control, but Platini had leadership and superior goal-scoring ability – most notably via his legendary free kicks. But whoever of these two you prefer, it’s clear that both warrant a place in this XI. No further comment necesarry.

Right attacking midfielder ~ Raymond Kopa
Europe’s best player from the late 1950′s can’t be absent from this list. Unquestionably the best French player in history until Platini and Zidane emerged to contest that throne. Kopa was a man of creativity, daring, dribbling, assists and goals. It’s a shame that Kopa has become somewhat of a forgotten figure compared to his inferior (but more prolific) teammate Just Fontaine. Better than Robert Pirès, for sure.

Striker ~ Thierry Henry
That Thierry Henry has never won a Ballon d’Or remains a regrettable fact. But, as one Greek philosopher once stated, it’s better that people ask why you don’t have a statue, than why you do have one. Henry, perhaps never shone for France the way he did for Arsenal, but there’s no disputing the man’s talent. In fact, that his 123 caps and 51 goals for France are seen as ‘disappointing’ by some only demonstrates how highly he was regarded in his prime. With his speed, touch, and taste for goals, Henry will be a threat to any defense. Just Fontaine is the reserve.


Coach/Manager : Aimé Jacquet, Raymond Domenech and Michel Hidalgo.

Reserves include : Just Fontaine, Claude Makélélé, Didier Deschamps, Robert Pirès, Joël Bats, Marius Trésor, Maxime Bossis, Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández, Manuel Amoros, Robert Jonquet, Franck Ribéry, Dominique Rocheteau, Éric Cantona, Patrice Evra, David Ginola and Éric Abidal.