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Gunning for Monaco PSG looks to challenge defending champs
Okay, so you've won a World Cup and followed it up with a European Championship. If you're France, it's time to kick off another domestic season, one which, hopefully will catapult the likes of Monaco or Paris St. Germain to some European silverware, something which French teams have managed only twice in history. The first season of the new millennium looks like a two horse race between last season's front-runners. The defending champions bowed to the inevitable, selling off prize assets David Trezeguet (to Juventus) and Fabien Barthez (to Manchester United). While at first glance it may seem like hefty blow, in reality it could well amount to addition by subtraction. Barthez fell out with management a long time ago, while Trezeguet was at a crossroads.
At 22, it was time for him to make the leap from promising youngster to bona fide superstar and he wasn't going to do it at Monaco. From the club's perspective it made more sense to cash in on their prized pair, and use the funds to strengthen the club, which is exactly what they did. Goalkeeer Stephan Porato (picked up from Marseille) is somewhat unorthodox (though nothing like Barthez) but is arguably one of the top three French 'keepers around (along with the man he replaced and Inter Milan's Sebastien Frey ). Xavier Gravelaine should help relieve some of the pressure on the midfield and great things are expected (though perhaps not immediately) from Argentine hitman Diego Quintero. But the real coup was picking up Burundi-born Shabhani Nonda from Rennes. US $22 million is a massive price tag, but Nonda is one of those fearless, athletic centerforwards who can bulldoze his way through any backline. Half of Europe's big clubs were hot on his tail for much of last season, and it shouldnąt be long before fans say "David who?" The sky's the limit with Nonda, and his partnership with Player of the Year Marco Simone is the best strike force in France. Paris St. Germain has constructed its own ready-made front tandem to counter it coastal rivals and, at least on paper, it looks great. Prodigal son Nicolas Anelka is back to team up with newly acquired Brazilian Christian. Anelka's US $33 million move is most definitely a gamble, but a calculated one. If being back in his hometown can't regenerate the volatile centerforward after his Bernabeu nightmare nothing can. Anelka may have taken the headlines, but the signing of Peter Luccin and Stephane Dalmat from Marseille could prove just as important. Both just 21, they are budding stars who combine exceptional athleticism with genuine skills and a rare versatility. If this proves to be their breakthrough season, there will be no stopping PSG. The rest of the field looks a class apart, though Lyon added some much-needed steel by signing Marc-Vivien Foe (from West Ham) and Eric Deflandre (from Bruges) while Bordeaux might be a quality outsider but only if it convinces wayward striker Sylvain Wiltord to return to the club (and that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon). London-based Gabriele Marcotti writes a weekly column on international soccer for CNNSI.com.
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