On the WeekendTODAY on Saturday, France is being reckoned as the side to lift the trophy. Being in the so-called Group of Death, first they have to get past especially one of their biggest rivals in the form of Italy.
The Les Bleus may be facing Romania in their opener in Zurich, Switzerland but, the coach for the 2006 World Cup finalists Raymond Domenech is not expecting a walk in the park. As for his counterpart Victor Piturca, a win over the French will not come as a shock. Either way, a fall is not going to do good for Domenech and his squad.
I managed to gather an article from the FIFA website a month ago and it's about the Romanian players warning the two 2006 World Cup finalists not to underestimate them. Romania may be seen as the most weakest link in Group C alongside former European champions France, Italy and Holland but, they actually top their qualifying group ahead of the 1988 winners Holland. Playing the role of the underdogs, Romania's Scottish Premier League-based striker Marius Niculae believes his side can pull off a Scotland (Scotland beat France home and away in qualifying).
Team-news. With Patrick Vieira being doubtful for the Romania clash, Claude Makelele could be the one who hold the line in the French midfield. Thierry Henry may start on the bench. Over at Romania, Stefan Radu is getting over the flu and may be at the bench for this match.
Issues to ponder about. Romania is back after eight years of international wilderness and captain Cristian Chivu is actually postponing a surgery on a shoulder injury. He will only do the surgery after the tournament. Romania's Adrain Mutu may be at the form of his life at Fiorentina (and the club is playing Champions League football for the first time next season), but news came in this week that FIFA has ordered to pay his fine to his former club Chelsea over the time when he was under cocaine charges and his grandmother passed away.
France's Franck Ribery had once declared himself as the heir to Zinedine Zidane and the Bayern Munich winger actually taken some time to get to where he is today. A rookie two years ago in the World Cup, now he has come of age. And given this is the Group of Death we are talking about, anything other than a win...tough.
What you need to know of Romania and France. And if France want to reach to Vienna on the day of the final, they have to begin the tournament on a good note.
