When France hammered Jamaica 8-0 prior to the World Cup finals, it was a result that many disregarded as being caused by the Caribbean islanders' ineptitude as much as the attacking flair of Les Bleus.
Events in Brazil, however, have shown that such an emphatic success was no fluke, with Didier Deschamps' men establishing themselves as one of the teams to beat. Honduras were eased off 3-0 in their opening game before Switzerland were brilliantly dispatched 5-2 amid a flurry of thrilling attacking football led by Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema.
It is a far cry from the shambles that Raymond Domenech left behind in South Africa four years ago, when limp displays saw France earn only one point. That episode remains etched in the minds of the team's psyche, despite only four members of the squad being retained for Brazil, but the scar tissue is finally being worked away by Deschamps' enthralling side.
The former Marseille and Juventus boss has finally tapped into the potential of Benzema as a genuine threat at international level. Having endured fallow periods unacceptable for a player of his talent, the Real Madrid striker has nine goals to his credit in as many games, establishing himself as a potential winner of not only the Golden Boot but also potentially the Golden Ball.
"I am in my head 100 per cent, but I can do better," Benzema said after the Switzerland match – an intimidating warning to France’s future opponents.
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