In-form Ribery eyes France place
5 May 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
With his trademark scar and distinctive haircut, there is something a little bit different about Franck Ribery.
But even more than his appearance, it is the undeniable talent of this 23-year-old that has caught the eye of football watchers over the course of the French season - so much so that that this livewire midfielder-cum-striker could well figure in Raymond Domenech's squad for the FIFA World Cup?. FIFAworldcup.com takes a look at the career so far of this unpolished northern diamond.
With the announcement of France's final 23 for Germany looming, speculation is rife about which lucky players might make the cut. One thing is for sure: the choices that have to be made by coach Domenech will be far from easy, especially in midfield. In addition to the merits of numerous experienced players such as Vikash Dhorasoo, Florent Malouda, Ludovic Giuly and Sidney Govou, Domenech must also consider the sparkling form of Marseille maverick Ribery.
Since arriving in the Mediterranean city in the summer of 2005, Ribery has helped raise his team's stock with a string of top-class performances which, for a player whose previous career path had been rocky to say the least, amount to a dazzling rise to prominence.
At 23, Ribery - whose strong northern accent betrays his origins immediately - has already got through six clubs. After three seasons at Lille's youth academy, from where he was released due to academic underachievement, he returned to his hometown club of Boulogne-sur-Mer in 1999 before moving on to third division outfit Ales.
There he earned a reputation as a troublemaker with a short fuse. He claimed that he was taunted on account of his scar - the legacy of a childhood road accident - and duly quit the Cevennes and endured a period of unemployment. But he never stopped believing and in 2003, his luck finally turned when he signed for Brest, also in the third division at the time.
Brilliant in Brittany, he was spotted by Jean Fernandez, then at the helm of Metz. In 2004, he signed a deal with the Grenats and in scarcely half a season had topped his new club's table for goal assists. "I haven't found it any harder to beat the defenders in Ligue 1 than those in the third division," he explained. "If anything, it's a bit easier. In Ligue 1, there is more space, less of the physical stuff, more skill and a much faster pace. So I'm in my element."
Everything appeared to be going swimmingly but Ribery's explosive temperament meant further trouble was not far away. A murky episode involving a fight in a nightclub and the consequent reduction of his salary ended with him leaving Metz in the month of January 2005 for Galatasaray in Turkey.
The arrival of this unknown French youngster bemused the Turkish press at first but not for long. In his five months on the banks of the Bosphorus, he scored five times, set up five other goals and picked up a Turkish Cup winner's medal. His success in Istanbul saw him quickly established as the new darling of the Galatasaray fans but he was soon on the move again, this time for financial reasons, joining Marseille at the start of the current season to renew his acquaintance with coach Fernandez.
Despite a disappointing start to the league season, Marseille and Ribery shone in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, knocking out the likes of Lazio and Deportivo La Coruna en route to the UEFA Cup. At the same time, the former Metz player set about establishing himself as one of the pillars of the French U-21 side alongside Mavuba.
Imperious in every outing with Les Bleuets, Ribery played a significant part in his team's qualification for the UEFA European U-21 Championship. With the Tricolores trailing 1-0 in the return leg of the final play-off against England, he smashed home the equalising goal, and then proceeded to win the penalty that sent France through to Portugal.
Now everyone is wondering whether he will see that adventure through to the end, or instead begin a new one on German soil. "I set myself targets and I'm ambitious, so I'm doing everything I can to get into the France team. And so far, I think I've given a good account of myself," he said in his usual straightforward manner. "But if I go to the EURO and not the World Cup, it won't be the end of the world."
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Unpredictable with the ball at his feet, Ribery has become the bête noire of Ligue 1 defenders. Whether roaming free on the right, lurking on the left, or cutting a swathe through the middle of the park, his every burst of speed provokes panic in opponents. The complete player, he pops up all over the pitch, serving up pinpoint passes for his team-mates and displaying a fierce will to win.
"Passing is my best quality, my speciality. It's true that I do it a lot and I hope to set up plenty of goals for the strikers," he said on arriving at Marseille. Yet Ribery is almost as adept at finishing moves off, as his 11 goals in all competitions this term testify. The most recent of these, in the semi-final of the French Cup against Rennes, was typical of the man. Scampering like a terrier right from the kick-off, he put the opposition under pressure and forced an error from the Breton defence before beating the keeper with only 17 seconds on the clock.
It is only natural that such performances should lead to talk of his promotion to the senior international ranks. "He definitely has the qualities to play for France," said his coach Fernandez. "But what he's doing with the U-21s is excellent in itself."
The day after Les Bleuets beat England to qualify last November, his coach Rene Girard went as far as to speculate that his young thoroughbred might have played his last match at that level. "His performances definitely merit a chance with the senior team," he enthused. "We don't know if we'll have him in the future because he looks destined to go a long way."
Ribery himself is flattered but admirably patient. "I know I'm being talked about a lot, which shows I'm doing good work on the pitch. Of course I think about playing for France. It's every French player's dream."
With Zinedine Zidane about to hang up his boots, many believe that Ribery could emerge as the natural successor to the Real Madrid player as the heartbeat of the French side. But this northern prodigy is not the type to advocate the unseating of an idol. His response is full of humility. "He's someone I've always greatly admired and I'd love the chance to play with him at the World Cup." On 15 May, we will find out if he might get that chance.
