Irish article about some unknown Bleus:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ ... 40194.html?
Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
The new kid on the block has attracted plenty of column inches since his arrival on the scene because of his unusual background.
Toulouse star Gignac, who is on course to pip Benzema for a central striking role, hails from a family of Spanish gypsies, but was adopted by the Manouche (the French gypsy population). His wife is Manouche and his extended family live in caravans. Indeed, he's been known to pop up in a second-hand clothes stall which contains some of his own hand-me-downs. He's also fond of hunting.
Certainly, it's an unusual profile for a rising star who has attracted the attention of both AC Milan and Manchester United. Gignac was France's top scorer in the qualifiers, although three of his four goals did come against the Faroe Islands. Nevertheless, his committed approach has endeared him to the masses.
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
The 22-year old has jumped to the front of the queue to become France's long-term goalkeeper -- a role they have never properly filled since the departure of Fabien Barthez after the 2006 World Cup.
Lloris managed to frustrate Liverpool in their Champions League encounters, but his concession of five goals at the weekend in Lyon's 5-5 draw at home to Marseille proved that he is by no means the finished article.
Far from being the trademark extrovert netminder, critics of Lloris say that he lacks the character and personality to assume such responsibility at this stage of his career. However, with no other outstanding options around, he looks set to be given the opportunity to grow into the role.
Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Toulalan, who has progressed through the French underage ranks to his current berth in the senior side, is regarded as a calm player who diligently goes about his duties as one of Domenech's preferred two holding midfielders.
He has been going through a turbulent time of late, however, with the normally placid individual having to be restrained at half-time in Lyon's Ligue 1 meeting with St Etienne a fortnight ago as he clashed with manager Claude Puel. Toulalan, who has been a makeshift centre-half for his club of late, was being ordered to keep it simple.
"Just because you never knew how to dribble doesn't mean we shouldn't do it," he responded to his boss.
His mood didn't improve last weekend where his last-minute own goal gifted Marseille a point in that epic 5-5 draw. To make matters worse, he incurred a groin problem, which makes him a doubt for Saturday.
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
The son of a former footballer-turned-manager, Gourcuff (right) is the man who will be pulling the strings in the French midfield over the two legs, as he looks to add playmaking finesse to supplement Toulalan and Lassana Diarra. At the age of 23, the Bordeaux man should have a glittering future ahead of him, although he's got an interesting recent past as well.
Following a dazzling teenage stint at Rennes, Gourcuff earned a move to AC Milan, but failed to win over then manager Carlo Ancelotti who had little qualms about criticising the player publicly, even suggesting there were psychological issues surrounding his less-than-inspiring stay at the
San Siro.
said Ancelotti.
Bizarrely, his aforementioned father, Christian, helped organise his son's move back to France even though he manages Lorient, who are rivals of Bordeaux in France's top division. A shy character, with undoubted technical ability, his mood will be crucial to the outcome.
Sidney Govou (Lyon)
The 30-year-old has been a regular in the French squad for seven years, but doesn't enjoy the profile of others because he has spent his entire career with Lyon.
Indeed, he has played against Ireland before, having appeared as a late substitute in the scoreless draw in Paris five years ago. Govou has featured regularly enough in this qualifying campaign as a right-sided attacker.
It is likely that he will lose out to Chelsea hitman Nicolas Anelka this weekend, although it's possible he will feature at some stage over the two matches, given his strong relationship with Domenech.
However, his reputation has been damaged by pictures which emerged of him falling out of a nightclub before that recent Ligue 1 match with St Etienne. He was stripped of his Lyon captaincy as a result and consigned to the bench for the Champions League visit of Liverpool. Murmurs about his social life have scared off admirers from abroad.
I cannot believe that he is still in the job after mismanaging a team with loads of world class players for the last few years now 
Obviously if they play to potential then they will wipe the floor with us and normally I dont give a crap about international football but domenech has fcuked wenger and Arsenal about for years and I hope he gets what is coming to him. It shouldnt be forgotten that should france fail to qualify then gallas (if he signs new contract), sagna, clichy and PV4 ( 
) will all get an extended break next summer and come back to us fully recharged for next season 
