Blanc right to take strong stance

France’s World Cup campaign was a nightmare. They finished bottom of a weak group and played like they didn’t know each other.

The massive bust-up within the squad didn’t help either. The players refused to train after the FFF decided to send home Nicolas Anelka.

Stupid

The French international keeper Hugo Lloris has came out and claimed that the strike was stupid and that the situation ‘went way too far’. It certainly did, it further destabilised a squad who were already not in the best of spirits.

Discipline

Under Raymond Domenech the squad seemed to lack any sort of discipline. He wasn’t well liked by players or French football fans. He struggled to control the big egos of some of the world’s top players.

He simply didn’t have the strength of character to control a group of players who believe they should be in charge, lack of discipline lead to the poor performance at the tournament and the strike.

Even though these footballers are highly paid professional individuals they still need boundaries and rules and somebody strong enough to enforce them. It looks like new boss Laurent Blanc is that man.

Hard-line

Blanc has decided to suspend the whole 23 man squad for France’s next game against Norway. A statement on www.fff.fr read: “Laurent Blanc met this Friday, July 23, with the federal council, to whom he presented his staff and his sporting project.

“He also proposed to the federal council, who accepted, not to retain for the friendly against Norway, on Wednesday August 11 in Oslo, any of the 23 players officially selected by the French Football Federation for the World Cup in South Africa.

“Laurent Blanc will release the list of players retained for this match against Norway on Thursday August 5 at 11.30.”

I believe this is a shrewd signal of intent on Blanc’s part. It sends out a message that he will not have any indiscipline in his French squad. It may just be a friendly game but something needed to be done about the complete disregard to authority that the French players have displayed.

This was shown by the recent sex scandal involving Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema. These players need to be knocked down a peg or two and Blanc believes he can do that.

Winner

Laurent Blanc is a winner. He won the World Cup and European Championship as a player with France. As a manager Blanc won the Ligue One title with Bordeaux in only his second season as a manager. He is in my opinion a far more competent boss than Domenech.

Popular

The 44 year-old is an intelligent guy. He was also a popular choice for French fans and media. Domenech became a hate figure within his own country and has been slated in the media for his bumbling performance.

Blanc on the other hand is regarded as something of a hero for his achievements with the national side. His popularity will give him time to do his job and some breathing space to change the team around.

Under Laurent Blanc France’s performances are bound to improve and France finally have a boss who believes he can control the big egos and temperaments. The future is looking brighter already for Les Bleus and one of his first acts as French boss has certainly shown his new players who is in charge.

Is Laurent Blanc right to suspend the World Cup squad?