Countries tend to have ‘generations’ of players - a group that is expected to win a tournament or two due to having some top class players at the same time. From being a little more sporadic, the French tap has been Flowing more than any other nation for ages now.
In the space of 20 years, France won two World Cups one European Championship, lost another World Cup final on penalties and also lost in another European Championship final. It’s a ridiculous record for a 20 year span, and was achieved with different generations of players. They were also headed into this summer’s proposed Euros as overwhelming favourites again.
Just before this period, France hadn’t done a great deal at all on the international stage. All of a sudden, it just worked, and the dam has burst.
On an individual level, they have only produced one Ballon D’or in this season 20 year period in Zidane, although there are some strong arguments that Henry and Ribery were both robbed at separate times. They look set to return to individual domination shortly with Mbappé.
They are the only nation that seems to be consistently producing world class talent in every single position on the pitch.
What suddenly clicked, and could they soon replace Brazil as the historic source of the world’s best players?
In the space of 20 years, France won two World Cups one European Championship, lost another World Cup final on penalties and also lost in another European Championship final. It’s a ridiculous record for a 20 year span, and was achieved with different generations of players. They were also headed into this summer’s proposed Euros as overwhelming favourites again.
Just before this period, France hadn’t done a great deal at all on the international stage. All of a sudden, it just worked, and the dam has burst.
On an individual level, they have only produced one Ballon D’or in this season 20 year period in Zidane, although there are some strong arguments that Henry and Ribery were both robbed at separate times. They look set to return to individual domination shortly with Mbappé.
They are the only nation that seems to be consistently producing world class talent in every single position on the pitch.
What suddenly clicked, and could they soon replace Brazil as the historic source of the world’s best players?