France: Thierry Henry

Four years have passed since a wiry, awkward-looking Thierry Henry first impacted on the international scene, with Aime Jacquet unsure where, or whether, to include him in the France team.

Three goals in the early rounds at France 98 failed to win rangy Henry a place in the final team, although he finished as their top scorer.

He remained glued to the bench as Zinedine Zidane and Emmanuel Petit - both who would soon become club-mates - took the final-winning plaudits as Brazil were brushed aside 3-0.

A Monaco player then, his fleeting summer performances had drawn the attention of Juventus coach Marcello Lippi who talked him and the principality club into a transfer.

But at the Turin club his performances were far removed from what was expected.

Even teaming up with Zidane there failed to provide the impetus for him to make a real impact at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

After six miserable months, he departed when Arsenal offered Juve £11million for their misfit.

Henry had a torrid time of things in Italy. He never took to the pace of the game, found the language a barrier and failed to do his talent justice.

In London though, where he joined international team-mates Petit and Patrick Vieira, he has found a place which feels like home.

The French team have benefited from his upturn in club form.

‘‘I am so happy at Arsenal,’’ he says.

‘‘I have a real love for that club and I am very happy with them.

‘‘I found true happiness with Arsenal, and it is great for a player to have settled down in a club where he is happy.’’

Jacquet would use the 20-year-old Henry sparingly in 1998, and frequently as a winger.

It took the best of Arsene Wenger’s paternal nature to foster the youngster’s talents after his Italian adventure took a sour turn.

There is little patience shown in the pressured arena of Serie A, but Juve must now rue not allowing the youthful Henry time to fulfil his obvious potential.

By Euro 2000, and then with the Gunners, Henry was the first-choice striker in Roger Lemerre’s team; not a target man but a prolific scorer and most definitely not a winger.

He scored three goals again in five appearances as ‘Les Bleus’ finished title winners away from home.

‘‘I’ve never seen a player in France like him,’’ admitted Michel Platini. ‘‘He is able to do everything.’’

The France team of the early to mid-1990s missed a goalpoacher ﷓ remember they were led into France 98 by Newcastle and Rangers flop Stephane Guivarc’h ﷓ but with Henry, David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord they now have three of the world’s best.

With France favourites, along with Argentina, to retain their title, and Henry a hot tip to finish top scorer, it comes as something of a surprise to learn that the Parisian is not a player given to self-belief.

‘‘I will never consider myself as the best,’’ he said recently. ‘‘I’ve always admired Raul. I get the impression that he never gets the credit he deserves.’’

Wenger, not a manager given to dealing out undue praise, sings a different tune.

‘‘I would not swap him for anybody else,’’ said the former Monaco chief.

‘‘Thierry is a very difficult type of player for teams to play against. He has tremendous pace and makes good runs which is hard to deal with.

‘‘I am not surprised at how well Thierry is doing.

‘‘There is no limit because he is so good, so big in the game now, that he can achieve anything he wants.’’