Source: Team_Talk
Gallas gunning for World Cup glory
William Gallas has always been something of an enigma, but he knows what is at stake as he bids to help France to World Cup glory this summer.[LNB] But there is no doubt that when his mind is on the game, the veteran France defender is an integral team player.[LNB]Arsenal centre-back Gallas, who turns 33 in August, emerged from the rollercoaster campaign of 2008-09, which saw him stripped of the captaincy by manager Arsene Wenger, to become one of the most consistent players in the squad.[LNB]It was Gallas who scored the crucial goal for France following Thierry Henry's infamous handball which beat the Republic of Ireland in their play-off at the Stade de France and secured a place at the World Cup in South Africa.[LNB]Injuries, though, would again rob the Gunners of Gallas' services for the business end of the season, this time a calf problem sidelining him for some six weeks before Arsene Wenger gambled on throwing him into the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona. It was a move which failed to come off as the defender would then miss the rest of the campaign - and left Raymond Domenech insisting he would cut the player out of his plans if he could not prove his fitness in Les Bleus' World Cup warm-up programme.[LNB]Gallas has always been something of a controversial figure, having been brought to England by then Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri from Marseille for £6.2million in May 2001.[LNB]Despite winning back-to-back Premier League titles with the Blues under Jose Mourinho, Gallas' time at Stamford Bridge was to end on a sour note. He failed to turn up for Chelsea's pre-season American tour after the 2006 World Cup, amid claims and counter-claim as a contract row escalated - including threats of scoring an own goal if selected by Mourinho.[LNB]Eventually, Arsenal offered Gallas a way out, as part of the swap deal which took wantaway England full-back Ashley Cole in the opposite direction on transfer deadline day.[LNB]Controversy struck again when Gallas was appointed permanent captain ahead of Gilberto Silva when Thierry Henry left for Barcelona the following summer. Some interpreted the move as Wenger trying to find a way to keep the player in check.[LNB]He produced some decent displays but was soon back in the headlines for the wrong reasons - criticising the young team's spirit and also breaking down at Birmingham after a match where Eduardo had suffered an horrific broken leg.[LNB]While Wenger eventually acted to remove Gallas from his leadership position, the defender's place as part of the side was never brought into question.[LNB]"I have said many times that after a major incident he has responded like a real professional," Wenger said.[LNB]"William has dealt well with the situation and that is what we want.[LNB]"I feel it was certainly a big blow to him, but he has shown his mental strength, and that's what I respect a lot."[LNB]Gallas was widely understood not to see eye-to-eye with fellow centre-half Kolo Toure, who left Arsenal last summer for Manchester City.[LNB]However, alongside new arrival Thomas Vermaelen, Gallas again proved himself a leading member of the side.[LNB]While Wenger accepts it was something of a gamble to play the veteran against Barcelona, the Arsenal manager maintains it was one worth taking.[LNB]"You ask a player of that experience 'do you feel ready to play, have you worked hard enough, do you feel ready to go into this game?' - when they say 'yes', you have to believe them," he said.[LNB]"The French national team is important but Arsenal are as well and he is paid by the club - not the French national team.[LNB]"We have to use the players when they declare themselves fit."[LNB]Gallas, however, backed Wenger's decision and is focused on having the final say in South Africa.[LNB]"I wanted to play this game against Barcelona, because I am a competitor," he declared.[LNB]"I want to play against the best players and I had an agreement from the medical staff and fitness coach.[LNB]"Now my objective is not to suffer any relapse and I am confident.[LNB]"If you are not confident, you can forget about the World Cup."
