Dangerman: Man City winger Nasri is set to be a key player for France this summer

On Sunday night all four started for Blanc. All were born in 1987 and what hype there is in France just now surrounds Generation '87.

Superficially this appears like another glory story for France's Clairefontaine academy, an  example of coherent development.

Yet they had not started together before and none made the 2010 World Cup squad.

Part of the overall French  philosophy is that, from the senior team down, there is one style - there is a desire to play 4-2-3-1 at  all levels. The players are meant to fit the system. A problem arises, however, when the system does not fit the players and after Sunday, that gives Blanc a dilemma.

France's best player was Montpellier's Olivier Giroud, but he was a 60th-minute substitute. Giroud went into the No 9 role previously occupied by Benzema, who also looked sharp, and helped France score twice.

« Previous123456Next »