Ambitious Ribery is a player to watch in Euro 2008

March 14th, 2008 | by: jeff |

France winger Franck Ribery wants to play like Zidane and win the Ballon D’or. Leading France to victory this summer would go some way to helping him toward those goals. I, for one, am a big, big fan of the player. In the post-Zidane era, he has just about looked like France’s best player. Reports coming out of Germany have it that he’s just about the best player in the Budesliga. With Ribery in his best form, France will be very imposing in at least one of the 11 positions.

Another no-brainer for Domenech has to be Karim Benzema. Bernard Laporte metioned Benzema in his recent quotes. Laporte was also talking about Ribery’s comments that he didn’t fancy playing in France again. Laporte is far from alone in his interest in Benzema. The player is of the highest quality, and should be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ribery leading France to glory this summer.

Domenech is also counting on Thierry Henry this summer. Henry really did a job for France in Euro 2008 qualifying, coming up big in crucial games near the end. His health is a question mark, so it’s a bit of a concern that Domenech is apparently relying so heavily on him. Those concerned about Domenech being inflexible (i.e., short on ideas), might be worried that Domenech will throw Henry into the first 11 regardless of his form.

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Jean-Michel

He’s got a few no-brainers for the final selection. No one will fault him for including those three in his summer plans.
Doumé

It seems TiFranck is making his way towards the top at a steady pace. What a trajectory in 5 years! He doesn’t have ZZ’s shy persona, he is more a of Gavroche-like figure, funny, loud, bragging, but that seems to get other players to respond very positively.
Here’s a little gem from not so long ago:
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Ribery/video/x4me3m_superbe-but-de-ribery-anderlecht-05_sport
supposedly, he had placed a E 100 bet that he would score this one!
sandrahn

RIBERY ROCKS!!! I watch Bayern a lot, mainly for him. He’s just extraordinary. I desperately hope he’ll be on fire at the Euros. Same with Benzema. Those two are just about two of the most exciting players to watch in world football today.
http://www.wickeddeflection.com/ 433

Two players in top form can make the difference. If those two are on fire at the Euros, then there should be 9 other able bodies, Makalele, Toulalan, Anelka, Gallas – these fairly reliable types, to make up the numbers. It’s a big “if” though, because players’ form so often seems to desert them when they change environments. Also, Domenech might botch things completely and start Benzema from the bench.
sandrahn

Zizou was in Brazil this past weekend and he was quoted in an interview there saying how sad he was to see Domenech wasn’t including Trez in the NT, esp. ahead of the Euros.
Luc

I know it’s been said a million times but the team, especially with Reibery playing like he has been at Bayern, just looks phenomenal. Ribery is an absolute no-brainer like a few others but I just hope it does come together on the field. I guess there is a lesson to be learned from the Azzuri in terms of playing as a team (yuck, did I just say that?). Winning this Euro, given the group of death, and what could be a really hard road to the final would be a brilliant success, alongside the Euro 2000 (which – and I know this may be heresy in some circles – remains to me the greatest achievement of Mes Bleus Precieux)