On the lawn of the Chateau de Clairefontainewhere the French national team has its central hubthere stands a gigantic replica of the World Cup trophy. The players take no notice of it any more. It may stand as a tribute to the countrys greatest sporting triumph, but its pertinence has somewhat waned given that 18 years have now passed since it was lifted by Les Blues. It is, in essence, a historical artefact.Indeed, the modern history of French football can be fragmented into two contrasting parts. Around the turn of the millennium the countrys national team were the predominant force in the international game, sampling glory at the 2000 European Championship as well as the World Cup two years previously. The decade that followed, however, was less than glorious. The sight of Patrice Evra and his teammates sulking on a South African bus certainly wasnt a triumphant one.France could be set for a revival in 2016, though. The team Didier Deschamps has picked to play at this summers European Championship appears to be the countrys strongest in a generation; since that giant World Cup trophy was erected at Clairefontaine. They are the bookmakers favourites and champions-elect for many.But even if France win the whole thing the greatest parallel wont be drawn with the French team of oldthe one that won everything over a dominant two year stint. Instead the best comparison would be plotted with the Spain team they would be snatching the European Championship trophy from.As things are France come into this tournament with something of a toxic reputation. They have grossly underachieved in recent major tournaments, failing to make it past the quarter-final stage since the 2006 World Cup. Their Euros record is even worse, last making it past that round when they won the competition back in 2000.Spain were once that team. They werent so much the nearly men of international football, but the nowhere men. They were perpetual underachievers until they finally fulfilled their true potential by winning Euro 2008. Then the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship as well. Their golden generation was decorated with plenty of silverware.Now France are targeting the same trajectory. They too have a golden group of players after years of pained development, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba reaching maturation at the same time. Euro 2016 offers them the first chance to make the most of that on the international stage.Drawn in Group A alongside Romania, Albania and Switzerland, Les Blues should comfortably secure their passage into the competitions last 16. Although Deschamps denies that his side have been dealt an easy hand. The way he sees it the tournaments pedigree, even at an early stage, is in no doubt.What is an easy draw' An easy draw is when you have won the matches, that is all," he told French newspaper La Depeche, as per The National. I suppose you are going to tell me that we could have got more renowned opponents. Romania are not flashy, is that it' But they didnt qualify by accident, and neither did Albania nor Switzerland.Deschamps is perhaps wise to play down his teams chances at this early stage. With the tournament being played on home soil it would be understandable were he to become enveloped in the euphoria that will surely engulf his team over the next month. It is his job to make sure his players dont believe their own hyperbole.All this isnt to say that Les Blues dont have their problems to overcome before they get anywhere near the Stade de France final. Their build-up has been marred by accusations of racism made by Karim Benzema, still suspended from playing for the national team as the investigation into his role in a blackmail plot involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He [Deschamps] has bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France, the Real Madrid striker insisted in an interview with Marca, as per the Guardian.Its a view also supported by Eric Cantona, who in an interview with the Guardian suggested Deschamps might have omitted both Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa due to their African roots. Benzema is a great player. Ben Arfa is a great player, he said. But Deschamps, he has a really French name. Maybe he is the only one in France to have a truly French name. Nobody in his family mixed with anybody, you know. Like the Mormons in America.From a sporting perspective Deschamps also has a number of questions to answer. Injuries to centre-backs Raphael Varane and Aymeric Laporte, as well as Kurt Zouma, have somewhat tempered gushing predictions of triumph made over Frances Euro 2016 chances, but nonetheless, Deschamps appears to have the competitions strongest, best balanced and most accomplished squad. Even more so than defending European champions Spain. Reigning world champions Germany too.Everyone contributes to the squad and whoever has been coming in, young players or the ones who have returned after a spell out, has blended in seamlessly, Olivier Giroud explained this week, as per Igor Mladenovic of the Guardian. Last week players such as Adrien Rabiot, Djibril Sidibe and Samuel Umtiti were singing [a ritual for all new players] and will testify to that.Were it not for their sheer depth France would have been crippled by the injuries and controversies they have endured. It should never be underestimated just how effective Les Blues are at beating Les Blues. So often in the past they have been their own worst enemies.This time it might be different for Les Blues, though, just like it was for La Furia Roja in Austria and Switzerland. This summer could be a turning point for international footballs most tediously tragic side. 2016 could be to France what 2008 was to Spain.
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