Eventually she realizes the sobbing isn’t working, so she asks me if I’m going to do anything for her. I say no, because it was her behavior that caused all of this to begin with.

So she sobs, “But…but…but I’m SAD!!!!”

That’s kind of how I feel right now. I realize, as a France fan, that I have no right to feel a need to be comforted. But…but…but I’m SAD!!!!

This isn’t the way I wanted qualifying to end. If we’d won legitimately, I could be legitimately celebrating and it would be wonderful. If we’d lost, I could be legitimately commiserating, which I think would actually feel better. If we’d even outplayed Ireland on Wednesday, it might feel like a karmic victory and be acceptable. As it is, though, we’re left with a kind of sad limbo. To paraphrase Bixente Lizarazu, I’m happy they qualified, but don’t feel like I can party.

Not sure where the road back is. Eventually I’m sure we’ll all come to accept this, and to be grateful France is in WC 2010.

Or we’ll be grateful until, under the tutelage of Domenech, they again go out in the group stage.

For now, though? For now, I’m just sad.

As a first step back, if you’re looking to remind yourself that France does have some legit talent, please watch this video of all France’s goals in qualifying, made by our very own commenter Jean-François. (This video has gotten over 40,000 pageviews since the game and become something of a lightning rod for everybody’s feelings about the game and the goal. Feel free to leave your own comments.)

And by special request: The photo I originally posted. Which depicts your mood better?

Unsurprisingly, there aren’t any big surprises in the squad. Aly “The Teeth” Cissokho gets his first call-up, but it was somewhat expected in light of Gaël Clichy’s injury. Loïc Remy gets the nod in favor of Bafetimbi Gomis, but again, that’s not really surprising because Les Bleus are currently short on wide players. Yoann Gourcuff and Sidney Govou return after missing out on the last qualifiers due to injury.

More notable are the absences. The biggest one is Patrick Vieira, who hasn’t been playing regularly at his club and has also been struggling on and off with injuries. Though his recent performances were positive, Domenech didn’t think it was enough to justify his inclusion in the squad (Vieira is not happy about that, btw). Franck Ribery is still out due to a knee injury, and despite Samir Nasri recently making his comeback for Arsenal after a long injury layoff, he was left out as well.

Totally unrelated, but here is an interesting fact I discovered the other day: Sidney Govou has scored 10 goals for France in 42 appearances. Compare that to Nicolas Anelka, who’s scored 13 goals in 61 appearances. Three less goals with 20 less appearances – and I’m sure Anelka has had more starts as well. It’s weird to think about Govou in a productive light, isn’t it?

Full list after the jump.

Gardiens de But
Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Stève Mandanda (Marseille)

Défenseurs
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
Julien Escude (Sevilla)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Rod Fanni (Rennes)
William Gallas (Arsenal)
Bakary Sagna (Arsenal)
Sébastien Squillaci (Sevilla)

Milieux de terrain
Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid)
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon)

Attaquants
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
Sidney Govou (Lyon)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
Loïc Remy (Nice)

Yeah, neither is anybody else. Let’s still hope for a good showing.

As Jeff discussed, Serbia’s win over Romania means France has no chance to go top of the group. France’s win over Faroe Islands means that France is guaranteed the second-place playoffs. Our guys have nothing to play for but pride. Let’s hope they do it for that, at least.

This team seems to have developed some heart in the past couple of games, and I want that to continue. And now that Benzema so injudiciously expressed his ambivalence, he knows that all eyes will be upon him. Let’s hope he makes the most of it. (Oh, and unlike last time we faced Austria, there’s no Mexes to rugby tackle guys in the box. So we shouldn’t end up down 3-1. Right?)

Watch out on set pieces, boys, and give it your all.

Expected lineup is interested and filled with bench players Domenech wants to get a look at.

Lloris – Fanni, Squillaci, Escudé, Clichy – A. Diarra, Mou. Sissoko – Govou, Malouda – Henry (cap.), Benzema.

Because why wouldn’t Domenech test out new players today? (I mean, besides the fact that he’s Domenech.)

Only “nouveau” is Nicolas Douchez from Rennes. (And FOUR goalkeepers? Have Lloris and Mandanda not impressed Domenech enough to guarantee their spots for next summer?)

Interesting choices in central defense: William Gallas, obviously, but then it’s Eric Abidal, Julien Escudé and Sébastien Squllaci. Philippe Mexès has apparently not had a great start to his season at Roma, so his exclusion is understandable, but even so, this group does not fill my heart with confidence.

At midfield, both Abou Diaby and Moussa Sissoko earned recalls. Florent Malouda is there, but I’ll be surprised if he plays. And at forward, look who’s back. Yes, surprise, it’s Sidney Govou.

UPDATE: And I didn’t pick up on this on first read-through, but Yoann Gourcuff is out with a thigh injury. What do you think? Does this mean 4-4-2?

All in all, a fairly solid but not specatular group. Do you think they can get the job done?

Gardiens de But

Cédric CARRASSO Toulouse F.C.
Nicolas DOUCHEZ Stade Rennais nouveau
Hugo LLORIS Olympique Lyonnais
Stève MANDANDA Olympique de Marseille

Défenseurs

Eric ABIDAL FC Barcelone
Gaël CLICHY Arsenal F.C.
Julien ESCUDE FC Seville
Patrice EVRA Manchester United
Rod FANNI Stade Rennais
William GALLAS Arsenal F.C.
Bakary SAGNA Arsenal F.C.
Sébastien SQUILLACI F.C. Seville

Milieux de terrain

Abou DIABY Arsenal F.C.
Alou DIARRA Girondins Bordeaux
Lassana DIARRA Real Madrid
Florent MALOUDA Chelsea F.C.
Moussa SISSOKO Toulouse F.C.
Jérémy TOULALAN Olympique Lyonnais

Attaquants

Nicolas ANELKA Chelsea F.C.
Karim BENZEMA Real Madrid
André-Pierre GIGNAC Toulouse F.C.
Sidney GOVOU Olympique Lyonnais
Thierry HENRY F.C. Barcelone
Franck RIBERY Bayern Munich

“The national coach, after the draw in Serbia did not speak about the game in his interview but he spoke about his life and said : “I just want to thank all the people who are supporting us. I Thank my wife too because life is hard. I got around 200 sms (text messages), so thanks to everybody”. It’s a habit for him not to speak about football. Remember the Euro 2008, after the game Italy-France (France lost 2-0) when he asked his wife to marry him.

So after the game, all the TV & radio shows, and all the websites have spoken about this statement and the 200 sms “scandal” because nobody loves Domenech.

48 hours later, i put online a website called “Un sms pour Domenech” which means “One text message for Domenech”. The website allows football fans to send a virtual sms to Raymond Domenech. After only 72 hours, 4000 sms were sent to the website, which welcomed 50.000 visits. This is the french buzz of the week (TV, radio, website relayed the website).

The adress is http://www.unsmspourdomenech.fr”

Best Regards,

Johann Crochet, founder.

Bits and pieces from some of the more repeatable texts currently up:

• Mais RAYMOND dis moi pourquoi PIRES ET GUILY ne sont plus selectionné en EDF !j’ai demandé à ESTELLE et elle m’a souris … j’ai pas compris !! So Raymond, tell me why Pires and Giuly are no longer called up for the EdF. I asked Estelle and she just smiled at me. I don’t understand!
• [..] Tu aimes le golf et tu fais jouer l’équipe de France de foot de la même manière : score minimum!!!! You like golf and you have the French team play football in the same manner: score the minimum!!!!
• Raymond ta lu le livre le coaching pour les nuls ??? si non tu devrais Raymond, have you read the book “Coaching for Dummies”? If not, you should.
• Merci de nous faire rêver Raymond, tes choix sont très judicieux et tu aimes prendre des risques…continu sur ta lancée. Thank you for making us dream, Raymond. Your choices are very judicious and you like to take risks. Continue to forge ahead.
• Raymond personne ne t’aime ! Charlie.M Raymond, nobody likes you.
• Diaby ou Cheyrou plutôt que Toulalan, aux côtés de Lass, c’est mieux ! Change de lunettes ou fais-toi épiler les sourcils si tu vois pas bien… Diaby or Cheyrou over Toulalan, beside Lass, it’s better! Change your glasses or pluck your eyebrows if you’re not seeing well.
• Raymond is a king!!! Please stay. As an Arsenal fan I don’t want the FFF getting any ideas about Arsène Wenger!

Not up for more detailed analysis, but I wanted to get the video posted. Lloris’ red is at about the 20-ish second mark. Especially watch the reverse-angle. Then tell us what you think.

Update: If you’re not certain, stop by the FFF site and watch the video with multiple slo-mo replays from many different angles.

New lineup: Mandanda – Sagna, Squillaci, Gallas, Evra – Toulalan, L. Diarra – Luyindula, Gourcuff, Ribéry – Henry.

Maxifoot is listing the following starting lineup:

Mandanda – Sagna, Squillaci, Gallas, Evra – Toulalan, L. Diarra – Ribéry, Gourcuff, Henry – Benzema

Raymond is tinkering with the centerbacks, giving Squillaci a shot. Probably because Mexès has the potential to be brilliant, yet still scares the living hell out of every thinking person, given that he plays every second as a red card waiting to happen.

Other than that, with the possible exception of leftback (didn’t Abidal start last month?) I think this is precisely the same lineup he used against Argentina. Because that worked so well.

I wouldn’t be so frustrated about this lineup if Raymond had shown any capacity to analyze the game as it goes along, substituting out non-performers. But…no. I’ll be surprised if he makes two substitutions, no matter how badly the game goes.

Am I being pessimistic?

Interesting points from Gaël Clichy in an interview this week on playing with the NT. I’ll search out the link later, but he basically said that he feels he has very little freedom to get forward for France, because so much is required of him defensively and one tiny mistake could cost them a chance at qualifying. And that this definitely constrains his play.

No pressure, guys.

Here in the US, the game is on TV5Monde if you subscribe. (Listed on the west coast schedule as showing at 12:37. Yes, I’m serious.) Otherwise be sure to check out myp2p.eu for illicit streams.

And if you’re watching near (or on) your computer, be sure to stop by here and leave thoughts as the game progresses.

To get ready for Euros:

Wednesday, February 6
Friendly
Spain-France at Malaga

Wednesday, March 26
Friendly
France-England at Stade de France

Tuesday, May 27
Friendly
France-Ecuador at Grenoble, Stade des Alpes

Saturday, May 31
Friendly
France-Paraguay at Stadium de Toulouse

Tuesday, June 3
Friendly
France-Colombia at Stade de France

Euro ‘08

Monday, June 9
Group C
Romania-France at Zurich 18h00

Friday, June 13
Group C
France-Netherlands at Berne (20h45)

Tuesday, June 17
Group C
Italy-France at Zurich (20h45)

And, with luck and skill, several more Euro games to come.

Post-Euros

Wednesday, August 20
friendly
Sweden-France

Saturday, September 6
World Cup qualifier
France-Austria

Wednesday, September 10
World Cup qualifier
France-Serbia

Saturday, October 11
World Cup qualifier
Romania-France

Wednesday, November 19
friendly
France-Uruguay

2009

Saturday, March 28
World Cup qualifier
Lithuania-France

Wednesday April 1
World Cup qualifier
France-Lithania

Wednesday August 19
World Cup qualifier
Faroe Islands

Saturday September 5
World Cup qualifier
France-Romania

Wednesday September 9
World Cup qualifier
Serbia-France

Saturday, October 10
World Cup qualifier
France-Faroe Islands

Wednesday October 14
World Cup qualifier
France-Austria

Anybody see any hidden landmines here?

Full list of all draws is here.