Euro 2000 semi finals - France: player by player

First Published: Jun 27, 2000

France are slight favourites as they head into tomorrow night's Euro 2000 semi final against Portugal. Here is a guide to the French squad with analysis of the players and their form so far.

GOALKEEPERS

FABIAN BARTHEZ

The new star goalkeeper for Manchester United, Barthez is a French icon and a frequent fixture on the gossip pages. He is used to spending quite a long time out of the action in a match due to the good defence that the last two French coaches have built in front of him but when called upon makes the difference between victory and defeat. If Barthez repeats his excellent World Cup winning form then France could well claim their second European Championship trophy.

Technically flawless with a violent temper. He was the highest paid player in French football and has come close to doubling that salary with his move to United. A Monaco resident, he was accused of match fixing by his coach in April which he angrily denied. Four years ago he served a two month ban from the game for smoking cannabis as did team mate Bernard Lama.

Barthez came close to throwing away a win against Spain in the quarter final by conceding a last minute penalty and has been maintaining his reputation for mad rushes from his goal line in this competition.

Playing in front of the best defence around helps him to steer clear of costly errors.

BERNARD LAMA

Number two goalkeeper, Lama lost his place to Barthez in controversial fashion by failing a drug test two years ago. Despite such recreations he is still a worthy second goalkeeper ready to step in if Barthez gets injured this summer. Extremely fit and agile, Lama can make mistakes though and tends to leave his defence without guidance at crucial times. An international player for more than seven years.

Lama has played once - against Holland in a 3-2 defeat - and did not show the sort of form that could displace Barthez from the team.

ULRICH RAME

Third choice goalkeeper who will be extremely lucky to make an appearance this summer but that is no reflection on his abilities. Rame has quick reflexes and is very agile but eschews the flashy showbusiness "Look at me I'm a star!" elements of Barthez' style. Helped Bordeaux to the French title last season.

DEFENDERS

LAURENT BLANC

One of the players who flourished under previous coach Aime Jacquet, Internazionale defender Blanc is a player of gritty determination and a lot of skill. Excellent at bringing the ball forward and a great positional player, Blanc is a natural leader in the centre of the defence and has the capacity to control the game from this position. Blanc is obviously starting to feel his age but has more than enough intelligence to carry him through Euro 2000 and beyond.

BIXENTE LIZARAZU

Very fast wing-back who can easily fit into more traditional defensive roles in a back four. A tough tackler who provides a constant good service to the players ahead of him in the national side. Lizarazu has been known to push further upfield but is most comfortable back in defence. A good left foot but is not known to have a tremendous shot as he uses his skill for the good of the defensive unit and is essential to Bayern Munich's success in the Bundesliga this season. He continues to have English lessons.

LILIAN THURAM

Excellent positional awareness and reading of the game means that he only has to use his express speed against the very best in the world in Serie A where he plays for Parma AC. Comfortable at either right side of defence or in the centre, Thuram is a great timer of the tackle and he will be seen as the next true defensive great if he expresses himself more with his passing. Still loved in France for two goals in the World Cup semi final he is cementing his reputation as one of the world's best players in the Euro finals. He often runs positively with the ball out of defence and could cause real problems for Portugal when he moves into advanced positions on the right hand side.

MARCEL DESAILLY

A giant in the defence for Chelsea and France with a style of nicking the ball away from attackers. Despite his size his game is not overtly physical and he has a good disciplinary record. Now stays firmly in defence unlike his AC Milan days where he was positioned in centre midfield. Scores very rarely but a very intimidating player to meet in defence with his speed and agility often seeing off attackers.

Desailly signed a new £10 million contract with Chelsea last week to end speculation regarding his future and his determined defending in the quarter final as Spain came pouring forward and France sat on their lead saved his team at least twice.

VINCENT CANDELA

A star for Southern Italian giants AS Roma, Candela has played himself into contention with his speed, agility and defensive awareness. The fact that coach Lemerre can choose between this player and Bixente Lizarazu at left back shows how strong the French squad is for Euro 2000.

A player who will fit well into any defensive plan from Lemerre, this adventurous player could play an increasingly important role in the challenge for the Euro title. A good crosser of the ball who may be encouraged to advance further for the national side than he does for his club.

FRANK LEBOEUF

He has his critics as a defender for Chelsea but his passing ability is astonishing and if he plays in June, massive raking passes through to the wings will be a feature of his contribution to the French team. In a really tough game against good opposition his defensive frailties spring up as if from nowhere and he can mistime tackles, avoid headers and fluff clearances and back passes.

MIDFIELDERS

ROBERT PIRES

Likely to be a team mate of several squad members if he gets the transfer he wants this summer to Arsenal. He has had a traumatic year playing for Marseilles but hopefully this should not disrupt his form for France. He is not very fast, but he is very strong when he runs and also powerful in the air. Pires has the talent to play centre midfield and direct the play but he can also contribute as a winger. He has been in talks with Real Madrid but is still keen on a move to Arsenal.

EMMANUEL PETIT

Harsh and violent player in the English Premiership, where he is regularly sent off for Arsenal, when Petit does play he shows some sublime skills in midfield has great vision and is an excellent passer of the ball. Petit had a fantastic World Cup and there is no reason why he should not do the same during Euro 2000 unless he is playing to protect a move to Real Madrid which is not out of the question for this arrogant and aloof player.

A knee injury has hampered his progress at Euro 2000 and he is not a certain starter at the moment due to his fitness problems.

DIDIER DESCHAMPS

A mixed season for Deschamps at Chelsea has led to rumours that the French skipper could be out of Stamford Bridge before the start of the new season. On his day he can be a very influential midfielder as he tackles ferociously and breaks up numerous attacks. A very defensive midfielder and a provider of invaluable support to the creative players around him his role in French success cannot be underestimated but his future in England seems limited and the midfield chaos in the Premiership has not given him an enjoyable year in London. Basque by birth and a return to southern France looks likely.

Deschamps has revealed on the eve of the semi final that he is quitting international football after Euro 2000. He will win his 100th cap for France in the game against Portugal - a new record for a French player.

CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU

A regular before a crisis hit his club career at Sampdoria, Karembeu is now at Real Madrid. The midfielder was forced to train by himself in Genoa parks after a contract dispute with Samp took nearly nine months to be resolved. Real will sell him this summer to Middlesbrough and he is now back in contention for the France team. His hard running style and ability to fill roles across midfield make him a good choice for the squad and he helped Real to the European Cup in his last game for the club.

PATRICK VIEIRA

Temperamental midfielder who is a formidable physical force in midfield and will grow up into a regular for his country. Very long legs that pass the ball well after winning tackles that others cannot. His game is built on confrontation and antagonism and is a transfer target for Juventus this summer. A former youth player with Milan who is the source of constant aggression and trouble in the Arsenal midfield. Calmer for the French team and a natural to deputise for the ageing Deschamps. Vieira has been in excellent form throughout Euro 2000 with a move to Juventus said to be almost complete. His tackling and ball winning will be a principle weapon for the French against Rui Costa and Luis Figo. He faced both opponents last season in the Champions League with Arsenal and found them difficult to stop.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE

A regular answer to the critics of this sublime player is to point to his exceptional control and balance, respectable finishing ability and mazy runs. Uses his talent to allow others to score and is the key creative influence for club and country.

An unexpressive and quite introspective player who just gets on with his game and lets his football do the talking. Will be extremely disappointed at losing the Serie A title to Lazio and will hope to make up for it with the Euro 2000 trophy. He pledges his future to Juve last month and was recently identified by Michel Platini as the last truly creative player left at his level.

Arguably the best player at the Euro finals along with Figo, Zidane will use the semi final against the Barcelona star to further his claims to be the best in the world. His touch and vision have truly returned now after a tired season after winning the World Cup for France.

YOURI DJORKAEFF

A midfielder or forward whose father Jean played full back for France in the 1966 World Cup finals. Quick and inventive with excellent technique and a devastating shot. He should perhaps score more goals but does lots of unheralded chasing and tackling for his side and is well aware of his defensive responsibilities.

Part of the squad rather than a glory hunter, he represents a potent weapon in the armoury of the French. Now playing in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and has adapted well to life after Inter Milan.

Djorkaeff produced a stunning finish to beat Spain in the quarter final.

JOHAN MICOUD

Powerful midfield presence relatively new to the French squad. Micoud is also very versatile in midfield and likes to push up into attack when he sees the chance. He has very good passing skills and could yet become a regular. He will play for Parma AC next season. One game so far against Holland and he failed to create chances for attackers.

STRIKERS

NICOLAS ANELKA

Anelka has come back to life over the past two months after his career seemed to be heading for oblivion. Wretched criticism of his Real Madrid team mates and ignorant abuse of new coach Vicente Del Bosque finally saw the Madrid club ban this moody malcontent for 27 days following a refusal to train.

Real's £23 million cheque to Arsenal last August to hire the Frenchman looked like a suicide note as March came to an end but a striker's life is worth only one thing - goals - and Anelka managed to score some vital ones on his way to helping Real to the European Cup last month. All seems happy again until Anelka next feels the urge to produce a crisis from his paranoid misinterpretation of the motives and events that surround the modern game. The actual football seems like a side issue to the psycho drama and Lemerre refused to have the striker near his squad while he was serving his ban.

There are still doubts over his Real future with Juventus still keen to bring him to Turin. Any observer can see the 21 year old has the speed and finishing ability to be the first great star of the 21st century. Whether he gets to show this at Euro 2000 only Lemerre can decide but when assessing Anelka it should also be considered that his passing in open play absolutely stinks.

SYLVAIN WILTORD

The top scorer in France last season he has the appetite for moody disputes with his club and should soon be causing trouble in 'contract' arguments with Paris Saint Germain if a transfer to the capital works out. Worth his place in the squad for good control and speed, he hits good clean shots with either foot. He plays well for the team when he gets the chance and is more direct and powerful than most French strikers. Given the choice he likes to attack from wide positions.

DAVID TREZEGUET

He was born in France but moved to Argentina when was a boy where he learned to play football. A star for AS Monaco in their championship season this year he is regularly linked with moves away from the principality. Fiorentina, AC Milan and Manchester United are all sometime suitors of this tall and elegant striker who shows some of the talent which Andriy Shevchenko is turning into goals at Milan. He is a super player and non-stop runner. He can work with both feet and his dribbling his amazing but he is not a top scorer at international having only scored 4 goals in 16 appearances for France.

Trezeguet is the new record signing for Juventus after the Turin club agreed a five year contract with the player at the weekend. Juve have paid £22 million to AS Monaco to sign Trezeguet.

CHRISTOPHE DUGARRY

Sad to see this clogger again at international level. After a fluke season for Bordeaux in 1996 has been wandering around Europe without any kind of success. OM, Milan and Barca fans all have tales to tell of horror misses by this scruffy forward who failed a dope test for steroids last year. Now he is back in Bordeaux and has been working hard for the last few months to keep his place in the first team. He is a talentless player, not too fast a can only shoot with one foot and his heading ability is the best part of an average game.

A broken nose agaist Spain could see him miss out on the semi final.

THIERRY HENRY

Henry is not a regular scorer at international level but has found great attacking form this season for Arsenal with 26 goals and helped the London club recover from the loss of Nicolas Anelka last August. Henry is a talented and quick player whose shooting and dribbling are simply amazing but he really does need to translate his new found confidence into goals at international level. Lemerre may play him wide in midfield rather than place him at the front of attacking moves.

So far Henry has replicated his World Cup performance. A great start to Euro 2000 with two goals has not been followed up and he was the poorest player by far against Spain.