Revenge is a blustering, grandiose word – one that’s thrown about in sport, and sometimes in life quite callously. It elicits emotion in even a neutral – a sort of a voyeuristic curiosity to understand the point of contention and to witness the resolution of the story thereon.
Ireland and France: two countries that for many a century were united by a mutual disdain for the English and common passion for revolution against corrupt clergy. They shared a healthy century-old rivalry in rugby as well, dating back to their first ever game in 1909.
A hundred years and eight months on from that sporting event between the two countries, French striker Thierry Henry changed the equation and brought vengeance into it.
Deep into extra time of a football match, Henry purposely used his hand to control the ball in the Irish penalty box and thereafter provided the assist for William Gallas to score the winner. The occasion? A 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff. The result? A few minutes later, the Irish were left shocked and enraged as France qualified for the world’s premier international competition at their expense.
Seven years on, France face the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2016 Round of 16 knockout game at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in France. Revenge is the word on everyone’s lips and Thierry Henry is wishing Robbie Brady hadn’t headed in that 85th minute winner against Italy to get them to Lyon.
France: the favourites
France entered this tournament with one of the most talented and balanced sides. They were also tagged one of the favourites, being the hosts. A late stunner against Romania and a summary dispatching of Albania saw them enter the knockout stages comfortably. A turgid draw in their third match against Switzerland led to them being questioned by their demanding media, perhaps unfairly.
The French coach, Didier Deschamps, has had to face constant criticism and analysis, an unhealthy by-product of the modern social media-led era, and it is to his credit that he has remained calm and true to his philosophy. In Laurent Koscielny and Adil Rami, he has two of excellent centre-backs, a position in which real talent is increasingly in short supply. Patrice Evra and Bacary Sagna are the veterans in the full back positions, and have performed creditably thus far, though they’re prone to the occasional error.
He has an attacking midfield that is the envy of most of Europe, with highly-rated stars such as Antoine Grizemann, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and the in-form Dimitri Payet. The latter, in particular, has grabbed games by the scruff of their neck, looking for all intents and purposes as if he truly belongs to the highest level. N’Golo Kante and Blaise Matuidi are the relentless runners and caretakers in this area of the pitch.
It is at the strikers position that Deschamps has a few worries. Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac are largely hit-and-miss, and the French public and media have directed their ire at them at various points in the recent past. Karim Benzema missed out through a sex tape, and alleged blackmail, scandal involving former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Ireland: the party poopers
The Irish will be a tough side to break down, charged up as they will be by a first appearance in a knockout game since the 2002 World Cup. They managed to negotiate their way out of a group containing Belgium, Sweden and Italy, with midfield man Jeff Hendrick and Wes ‘Wessiah’ Hoolahan being their standout performers. Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane have marshalled their resources effectively, mixing adventure in attack with conservatism in defence. Glenn Whelan and John O’Shea have proven able leaders for their defence in what will probably be their last appearance at the international level.
The Irish will be looking to keeping Griezemann and Payet quiet, with these two being the most creative and clinical outlets for France’s attack. A 4-5-1 setup could counter Deschamps’s 4-3-3, with the added men in midfield possibly man-marking the aforementioned duo. The French could start with a midfield three of Matuidi, Kante and Pogba, and a front three of Payet, Giroud and Griezemann.
France have been excellent hosts thus far, keeping in mind varying levels of internal strife and tensions rooted in their society. Even in the face of some seriously poor behaviour from a minority visiting fans, the French public have responded with warmth and support. They would be looking forward to fully backing their national team as they head towards the business end of the tournament.
In the near future and many years hence, the Euro 2016 will be remembered as one of the most politically and socially charged footballing events in the new millennium. There is a vague sense of unease now in a tournament that celebrates the footballing union of Europe even as the institution tying most of it together seems to be progressively unraveling. The United Kingdom’s vote to exit the EU on June 24 came as a punch in the gut to the nations that still hold it together, even as it seemed as if the UK had shot its leg off to deal with an ankle sprain. It brought into view stark, unadulterated societies that were fractured and deeply divided.
It is perhaps up to football to remind Europe of its commonalities.
