France have freed themselves from Raymond Domenech’s haunting stubborn spirit and from their chains of misery. Les Bleus are relieved that the summer of the year 2010 is now part of the past and that future exists thanks to the logic in this world.
After France’s disastrous World Cup, this period will forever be remembered as one of the worst moments to endure in the country’s history of football. Unprofessional behaviours from key players such as Nicolas Anelka, stunning comments from the ever hated Raymond Domenech, humiliating results on the pitch... what more was actually needed for the French Football Federation to put an end to that agonizing era?
Under Laurent Blanc, who was officially named as the team’s coach in July 2010, Les Bleus are starting to see life in colours. France’s tricolored flag is gaining more respect through the players chosen to represent the nation. Football fans and pundits around the globe are seeing and hearing something different than what became "the usual" during Raymond Domenech's reign.
With curious eyes, the world is watching the progress of the French who had dramatically fallen during the past couple of years especially. And so far, remarkably, France’s national football team has been doing well enough in general in what they call their “transitional phase”, which is said to have started after the end of their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The French are taking things one step at a time as Laurent Blanc keeps urging his men not to make a step back at every disappointment. Les Bleus look to be moving forward like warriors with a concrete vision – the dream of becoming a solid unit that can walk through all seasons, fight any battle and win any war.
There is the Euro 2012 trophy at stake; it’s still far away from anyone’s reach, as of now. However, it is something which is very much in the sight of the French. Today, there may be no Zinedine Zidane in France’s senior team, but heroes aren’t created overnight. And as Les Bleus’ present mindset seems positive enough, the future at the end of the tunnel looks bright too. Above all, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema has found his scoring boots at last!
Some might have raised their eyebrows when Laurent Blanc misguided France to a 2-1 loss against Norway in his coaching debut. Others might have even laughed when they suffered a 1-0 shock to minnows Belarus in the opening match of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
But who has the biggest smile, right now? 
Actually, there’s absolutely no reason to make a sad face when you’re on top of your expectations. That's the situation in which the French are, at the moment. Evidently, they are just thinking about pursuing their admirable efforts and maintaining their momentum.
Their latest results speak for themselves: three consecutive victories in the Euro 2012 qualifiers have fired them onto the first position in Group D, where they’ve been drawn alongside Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina. More recently, Les Bleus recorded a morale-boosting victory over five-time world champions Brazil in an international friendly match.
Put it that way: France are on the correct track to get rid of their old-self. In their transitional phase, the French seem to have reached the point where they need not to be scared of oppositions anymore. They must just dare to dream and have no fears to believe because they have fire burning in the pot.
And like in a happy-ending movie, Les Bleus will be facing toothless Luxembourg on Friday as the Euro 2012 qualifiers resume with excitement. Put complacency aside and you can say this with honesty: Luxembourg vs France will be easy as pie for Les Bleus. It looks like the three points are out there; they just need to go for them and clinch the 12-point mark after match-day 5 in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
