2007 France Home – Thierry Henry #12 Small

The 2007 calendar year was a transitional phase for the France national team. Having reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final (losing on penalties to Italy), Les Bleus entered the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with optimism but also in the midst of change.

• Euro 2008 Qualifying: France competed in Group B alongside Italy, Scotland, and Ukraine. They eventually qualified for Euro 2008, finishing 2nd behind Italy. However, qualifying was far from smooth — France suffered two defeats to Scotland, creating tension among fans and media.

• Friendlies: France used 2007 to experiment with lineups, integrating younger talents like Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri, and Jérémy Toulalan into the squad while still relying on experienced leaders.

• Key Storyline: France were still led by Raymond Domenech, whose methods often drew criticism. The squad was in transition from the Zidane era, and Thierry Henry emerged as the undisputed attacking leader.

• Kit: The 2007 home kit, made by Adidas, was a classic blue shirt with red and white trim — simple and elegant, worn throughout Euro qualifying and memorable as Henry’s captaincy era began to take shape.

2. Player’s Impact – Thierry Henry (2007)

Thierry Henry, then at Arsenal before moving to Barcelona in summer 2007, remained the face of Les Bleus during this period.

• Appearances: Featured consistently in Euro 2008 qualifiers, leading the attack as captain in several matches.

• Goals: Scored 6 goals in qualifying, including decisive strikes against Lithuania and the Faroe Islands.

• Milestone: In October 2007, Henry surpassed Michel Platini to become France’s all-time leading scorer (then 43 goals). He would finish his international career with 51 goals in 123 appearances.

• Role: Henry was the focal point of France’s offense, operating primarily as a central striker but often drifting wide to link with attacking partners like Nicolas Anelka and Franck Ribéry. His leadership was crucial as France adjusted to life after Zidane.

• Legacy at the Time: Henry’s performances in 2007 solidified his place not only as France’s record scorer but also as a bridge between the 1998/2000 golden generation and the emerging stars who would carry France into the next decade.

3. Full Squad List – France 2007 (Euro 2008 Qualifying Core Squad)

Manager: Raymond Domenech

Goalkeepers:

• Grégory Coupet (Lyon)

• Mickaël Landreau (PSG)

• Sébastien Frey (Fiorentina)

• Steve Mandanda (Marseille, debut year)

Defenders:

• Lilian Thuram (Barcelona)

• William Gallas (Arsenal)

• Eric Abidal (Lyon/Barcelona)

• Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

• Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich)

• Gaël Givet (Monaco/Marseille)

• Sébastien Squillaci (Monaco/Lyon)

• Philippe Mexès (Roma)

Midfielders:

• Claude Makélélé (Chelsea)

• Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan)

• Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon)

• Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)

• Samir Nasri (Marseille)

• Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)

• Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Forwards:

• Thierry Henry (Arsenal/Barcelona)

• Nicolas Anelka (Bolton)

• Karim Benzema (Lyon)

• Djibril Cissé (Marseille)

• David Trezeguet (Juventus – though often left out due to issues with Domenech)

• Sidney Govou (Lyon)