France drop anchor

Locals in Ibusuki greeted the arrival of the world champions by unfolding dozens of blue, white and red flags along the main streets. A huge banner in the town centre read “Allez Les Bleus” while some shops have dressed their windows in the three colours. “It’s great to have them here. We are only missing Zidane,” said a Japanese fan who was later informed the French playmaker is due to join his team mates on Wednesday.

The Real Madrid mid-fielder missed the defeat against Belgium as his wife Veronique gave birth to their third son on Saturday. The French were also without striker Thierry Henry at the Stade de France and looked strangely out of sorts.

The Think-tank (Group F)

Sven-Goran Eriksson (England): A knee injury brought to an abrupt end Eriksson’s undistinguished playing career as a defender for Swedish second division side Karlskoga. In 1976 he was appointed coach of Swedish third division side Degerfors and within three years had guided them to the top flight. After winning the UEFA Cup with IFK Gothenburg in 1982 he joined Benfica in Portugal, where he won two championships and the domestic cup in two seasons. Eriksson arrived in Italy in 1984/85 and took the helm at Roma before moving to Fiorentina two seasons later.

Lars Lagerback/Tommy Soderberg (Sweden): Lars Lagerback moved into coaching in 1977 after a modest playing career, and became involved in international management three years later. He worked at junior levels for five years before being appointed B team coach, and was appointed assistant senior team coach in 1995 under Tommy Svensson. Tommy Soderberg replaced Svensson in 1998 and initially took sole control, but a year later he asked Lagerback to join him in leading the national team.

Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina): Marcelo Bielsa took the reins for Argentina when the legendary Daniel Passarella stood down after the 1998 World Cup in France. The former central defender took the job in controversial circumstances, having joined Spanish club Espanyol just a month before. It was too good an opportunity for Bielsa to turn down and following protracted discussions the Barcelona side agreed to let him go. Notoriously eccentric, Bielsa began his coaching career with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina before moving to Mexico to lead club Atlas.

Adegboye Onigbinde (Nigeria): A 64-year-old former school teacher, Onigbinde first took control of Nigeria’s ‘Super Eagles’ between 1983 and 1985, leading them to defeat in the final of the 1984 African Nations Cup. He was appointed Nigeria coach a second time on February 18, 2002, in place of Shaibu Amodu.

Despite the daunting opposition, Onigbinde is unfazed by the prospect of facing Argentina, England and Sweden.