I don't get to see Jeremy Toulalan play often. We don't get a lot of France's games on TV in Canada. Toulalan plays his club ball for Lyon, and although Lyon have done reasonably well in the Champions' League, their group matches usually get passed over for worldwide broadcast in favour of showing glamour teams instead. What became clear Friday is that France will go as far as Toulalan takes them.

Toulkalan has never scored for France, and has one goal in 220 French league games. That's not his job, although left unmarked, he showed a little shooting skill Friday against Uruguay. His role is to be the defensive midfielder, the guy who sits right in front of the defense and cuts out opponents' attacks. Toulalan is very, very good at it. Uruguay rarely got past him all day.

The natural comparison is Claude Makelele—the last man to hold that job for France long-term, while playing at Real Madrid and Chelsea. It's a decent yardstick, but while Makele has more goals, Toulalan is better on the dribble. Both Makelele and Toulalan are products of Nantes, but Toulalan reminds me a little more of Nantes and Real Madrid alum Christian Karembeu. Karembeu did a little bit of everything, and ran his legs off doing it. It's a testimony to Makelele's vision that the play usually came to him. Toulalan runs at the play full tilt.

Toulalan is going to have to keep his cool: he was booked for a bone-crunching tackle on Alvaro Pereira in the 0-0 draw with Uruguay. One more yellow in the next two games and he'll miss a game. But in a game where Uruguay was touted as the cranky, physical side, Toulalan's tough play rallied the French to use their size and show a mean streak of their own.

Arsenal has made offers to Lyon for Toulalan's services already, and been rebuffed. Real Madrid are looking to sign more stars this summer. Toulalan should be the very first target. Real won two European Cups with Karembeu, one with Makelele, and none since Makelele was foolishly sold. Toulalan in front of a back four would let the five guys in front of him fill the onion bag. France doesn't have the firepower, but at the right club (Arsenal, Real, Roma, or a similar set-up), Toulalan could win a ton of trophies.