Player profile: William Gallas

If France are to make progress in this World Cup I think they’ll be depending an awful lot on William Gallas to come up with big performances in each game.

He’s an excellent defender who can play in any position in the back four. He’s strong and very quick, has good control and when he’s playing fullback gets forward well to join the attack but has great recovery powers to get back in his defensive position.He also manages to chip in with about half a dozen goals a season.

He’s 28 and has been with Chelsea since 2001 but is now being vocal about wanting to leave with one year left on his contract. He should have the pick of the top teams if Mourinho says he can go. He started his career with two seasons at Caen, then four at Marseille and has now done five at Chelsea, so probably feels its time to move on.

Gallas has played over 200 games for Chelsea in five years which shows how Mourinho and Ranieri think of him in their setups. I expect Domenech to use him as much as he can if he hopes for France to go far.