THE Stade de France expects a good crowd for the visit by England, and though the ancient enmity brings with it guaranteed noise and a beery away section, Les Bleus will feel confident the atmosphere will be nowhere near as hostile as for their last home game. That was four months ago, the guests Morocco, the audience mainly French residents but the majority of them backing the North Africans. That much was evident from the number of red flags and the shrillness of the whistling during La Marseillaise.

Most French players were jeered as their names were called in the preambles, except, conspicuously, three young men around whom Les Bleus concentrate much of their optimism for the longer term. It was not so much that the crowd were respecting prodigious talent in Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri and Hatem Ben Arfa, but rather they recognised backgrounds something like their own, Frenchmen with Maghrebi roots, a sometimes ghettoised community for whom a football hero can assume a vivid significance. Roll back almost a decade and one such hero was being hailed by jubilant crowds on the Champs-Elysees. “Zidane for President” they famously cried after the World Cup triumph of 1998.

France have been seeking the next Zinedine Zidane for some years, initially when the brilliant son of Algerian immigrants announced his withdrawal from international football soon after the 2004 European Championship. No obvious successor emerged, so Les Bleus got the old Zidane back, his decision to retire reversed for the lead-up to the last World Cup, his presence in the final providing its defining moments: his goal, his head butt at Marco Materazzi, his red card, the defeat, the end of his career and with it a ragged break for Les Bleus with the generation who had given French football the most concentrated period of success in its history.

It has been a ragged break because while some of the thirtysomethings who won a World Cup in 1998 and then Euro 2000 have wondered loudly if they were prematurely cast out from the side – men such as Robert Pires, still influential with Villarreal at the top end of La Liga, and David Trezeguet, still prolific for Juventus in Serie A – a suspicion grows that others have hung around too long. The veteran defender Lilian Thuram rarely features in Barcelona’s first team; Patrick Vieira has had a sketchy season for Inter and Thierry Henry’s club form puts even France’s greatest goalscorer under scrutiny. The France coach, Raymond Domenech, insists Henry will come good for the European Championship in June, but is relieved that another thrilling centre-forward has emerged. Benzema has eye-catching acceleration and a powerful and precise shot, perhaps some of the close control of Zidane and a good deal more of the self-control. Benzema’s 17 goals in 29 matches in Le Championnat have propelled Lyons to their customary position at the top after a ropey start. He has also scored four – including spectacular strikes against Rangers and Manchester United – in the Champions League.

Benzema made his debut for France just under a year ago, has three international goals and only turned 20 in December. Like Zidane, he is the son of French-Algerian parents. Ben Arfa, born in France to a Tunisian father, had stood out even as a 14-year-old. Like Benzema, he came through the Lyons youth system, a skilful winger, but volatile. Last week he and Lyons teammate Sebastien Squillaci reportedly came to blows after training.

Benzema and Ben Arfa, just turned 21, do not get on either, which became plain when they did not shake hands when one replaced the other in a league match against Lille three weeks ago. In contrast, Benzema and Marseilles’ Nasri are close enough friends to banter about the label “New Zidane” and for Nasri to jokingly stake the stronger claim to it. Nasri comes from Marseilles, his grandparents from Algeria and he plays just behind the strikers: just like Zidane.

Zidane’s heirs: French class of ’87

SAMIR NASRI (Marseilles) Born June 26, 1987 Nasri grew up in Marseilles though through his Algerian grandparents he could have chosen Algeria or France for his international career. A skilful playmaker, he made his debut for Les Bleus a year ago, having fi rst played for Marseilles at 17

HATEM BEN ARFA (Lyons) Born March 7, 1987 Ben Arfa, inset, was playing Champions League football for Lyons at 17 as an electric left-winger. He has suffered ups and downs since but thrived after Florent Malouda left for Chelsea. Tunisia, where his father comes from, offered him the chance to go to the 2006 World Cup, but he opted instead for France

KARIM BENZEMA (Lyons) Born December 19, 1987 Just about the most coveted 20-year-old in Europe. Prolifi c in front of goal for Lyons this season, he cites the Brazilian Ronaldo as his idol, and has some of the same power, pace and fi nishing to his game. Born in France to Algerian parents

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football