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The
French national football team, under Laurent Blanc, are still in the
process of re-building their name after a dismal showing in South
Africa in 2010. When they line out to face Brazil today, Blanc and his
players will know that further progress will be marked by a positive
result. France beat Brazil to win the one and only World Cup trophy in
1998 and also won by a Thierry Henry goal in the 2006 World Cup quarter
finals, so it will be a psychological boost for the French to triumph
once again.

Karim Benzema and
Matthieu Valbuena scored the two goals at Wembley that secured a
morale-boosting 2-1 win over England last November.

Coach Laurent
Blanc, has been playing up this match by saying his players will give
their all to win today’s match. “As a player, you don’t have many
opportunities to face Brazil in your career,” Blanc told reporters in
France.

“They are one of
the two best teams in the world. It’s going to be difficult. Brazil
have a multitude of good players. To measure oneself against the best
is the best way to make progress. It will be a good gauge,” he
continued.

The team will be
made up of young players like Yoann Gourcuff, Alou Diarra and Loic
Remy. Though these three players have underperformed in the Ligue 1,
Blanc said they cannot be discarded. “I know these players very well. I
know what they are capable of, even if they haven’t shown it in a while.

Brazil’s goalkeeper
Julio Cesar will be back in between the sticks after a largely
disappointing World Cup. Also restructuring under new coach, Mano
Menezes, he said Brazil will always be happy to call up a world class
goalkeeper like Cesar. “This was already part of our plans and it’s
with happiness that I call up Julio Cesar for the first time”, coach
Mano Menezes said. Kaka though did not get a recall after making his
return to Real Madrid last month, as he was not deemed fully fit.

Probable teams

France: Hugo
Lloris; Eric Abidal, Adil Rami, Philippe Mexes, Bacary Sagna; Yann
M’Vila, Alou Diarra, Yoann Gourcuff, Florent Malouda; Kevin Gameiro,
Karim Benzema

Brazil: Julio Cesar; Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo; Ramires, Lucas, Elias; Hernanes, Robinho, Alexandre Pato

Battle of the best

Barcelona’s Lionel
Messi will confront Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo but on the
international leval as Portugal tries to add Argentina’s scalp to
Spain’s. Portugal, led by Ronaldo walloped Spain 4-1 in a November
match and will hope to keep the momentum under new coach, Paulo Bento.

The meeting between
Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal in Switzerland – a very
neutral venue will afford football fans the chance to compare these two
great players on the same pitch.

But Bento said,
“For me, it is not just about Ronaldo against Messi, but above all
about Portugal against Argentina – individual duels are for the fans.”
Argentina’s new coach Sergio Batista, who took over from Diego Maradona
the 2010 South Africa World cup said the game will be used to test new
players. This will be in preparation for the Copa America that will be
hosted by Argentina in July. “This is a good moment to try out some
youngsters,” Batista said.

Meanwhile Germany, with a lot of very young players being blooded by
Coach Joachin Low, will meet an Italian side that is also beginning to
look the way of young players.