Nicolas Anelka, after what has been a stuttering international career at times, finally seems to have become a key player for France.
Anelka announced his arrival on the international stage with a breathtaking performance against England in a friendly in 1999. The 19-year-old scored both goals in a 2-0 victory at Wembley and everyone watching must have believed he was set for a glittering career.
Since then, however, Anelka has struggled to establish himself as a key component of France's side and he was a fringe member of the squad that won Euro 2000.
However it was in 2002 that his most notable problems with Les Bleus occurred. Having been called-up as cover by the then-France coach Jacques Santini, Anelka refused the invitation and spent a long time in the international wilderness.
And it was not until the qualifying campaign for this tournament that Anelka finally fully integrated himself into the thinking of France's current coach Raymond Domenech.
Anelka scored a fine solo goal in France's 1-0 victory over Lithuania in March 2007 and since then he has emerged as the preferred partner to Thierry Henry in Les Bleus' attack.
This tournament will be Anelka's chance to finally prove himself with France and he must take it to right the wrongs of the start of his international career.
















France