EXCLUSIVE | Marcel Desailly on France’s attack: ‘It is an unbelievable strike force.’

EXCLUSIVE | Marcel Desailly on France’s attack: ‘It is an unbelievable strike force.’

Get French Football News sat down with former France, Olympique Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly to talk to talk about the France squad and the current issues surrounding his former club sides.

In this second of a four-part interview, he talked about France’s attacking talent and whether there is any chance of 2002 repeating itself.

In the 2002 World Cup we had the top scorers of England, Italy and France but went out in the group stage without scoring. Now we have a huge depth of brilliant attacking players. Do you have any fears that 2002 could repeat itself?

[Laughs] Especially as we have Senegal in our group again! No. OK we had Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Djibril Cissé – Zinedine Zidane too but he was injured. But the individuals that France has today – the attacking ability that we have – OK, we don’t have a Zidane in the team and Titi – Thierry Henry – was exceptional and at the level of what we have today – but it is an unbelievable strike force.

In those crucial moments when it’s attack-defence, attack-defence, the players that France has, their ability to counter after repelling the opposition, the transition to offence – that’s where France can make the difference. [Clicking fingers excitedly] That’s the X-factor that France has. There is something special. , , , , who isn’t exceptional, but in that type of situation France will be able to get through because of that individual talent which will appear in key moments – with that winning mentality, with that belief.