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France
5-0
Comments(13)From FIFA:
“Serbia secured qualification in style, with Nikola Zigic, Marko Pantelic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Milan Javanovic (2) on target in a 5-0 win over Romania in Group 7.”
Ouch.
We were bettered in the group, but we also won 5-0.
Goals from:
Gignac
Gignac
Gallas
Anelka
Benzema
5-0, and it was almost convincing.
Gignac was the star man. If you have anyone trying to tell you that Gignac is not a top man, don’t listen.
Gignac turned on the style against the minnows: 3 goals in two matches.
Star man.
And that has to make Doms look at least a little bit good, if only for a short while.
Gignac’s understudy, Benzema, also came on to nick a goal.
Was France playing 4-3-3? Or were we playing 4-4-2? Where was Henry? And what was Anelka doing dropping deep so much. Is Anelka our answer to Dennis Bergkamp?
But Anelka also nicked a goal. Goal-poacher William Gallas nicked one. Could’ve had another.
Abidal did ok at the back.
The side looked ok. Ribery could have added something.
Who do we play next?
Who are we going to draw?
Posted from 
United States
russie
Posted from United States
It was a 4-4-2 lineup, but since Gignac was to be the lone point, Anelka dropped slightly back, in what people call a 9½ position. This way, he was able to touch a huge amount of balls and take them ahead. It’s a pretty normal thing to do, although things evolved at times.
At some point, Jean Michel Larqué on TF1 pointed that they were more playing in a 4-2-4 set which was used by Brazil in the 50s. Of course it depends on the opponent, but things are not set in stone; you take the space the others give you.
Domenech looked neither good nor bad; he looked like a guy who got the right guys, in the right frame and spirit. They played with enthusiasm and cohesion. “Almost convincing”, that’s not really necessary. Toulalan, Govou and others put in great shots that could have turned into goals. The ones who were not convincing were the sorry Romanians. Now THAT’s a debacle. We could only take care of our game. I doubt FIFA would have let us lend them some of our subsitute defenders 
Jeff: the play-offs are seeded via world ranking. So France will avoid Russia, Greece (if they finish second) and Portugal (if they finish second). That means they would draw either Ukraine (or Croatia if Ukraine unimaginably fail to beat Andorra), Ireland, the runner-up between Slovakia and Slovenia or Bosnia & Herzegovina. I imagine the draw will take place this thursday or friday after the final games are played.
Posted from United States
How many games are in the play offs exactly?
Posted from United States
The play-offs are a two-leg home and away affair ala the Champions League.
Posted from United States
I also believe the higher seeded nation gets the return leg at home. It will not be easy for Les Bleus. I can see having to play Ireland, when Les Bleus played them a few qualifiers ago it was not easy sledding. Well at least we will see two more competitive matches for the side!
I wouldn’t say I’m confident going into the playoff.
An 11-0 would have been different. That would have been convincing. Even a 9-0.
Posted from United States
you forgot gourcuff he could also have added something!!!(*$!)$
domenech wore lenses instead of glasses
Posted from 
Netherlands
france has a good team no doubt, not a great team, gignac scored 2 goals that’s true but he did not empress me, he was not as good as usual,Toulalan has taken a new dimension,he is really awsome and a hard worker,France weak links are the goalies, with FREY and a new coah with a brand new attitude than France would become a grea team, right now it’s kind of like a great chef with bad ingrediens,we should support the team but no matter how great the victories are (if we win)for the team sake we cannot afford to go to south africa with domenech we can’t, i would like to see fernandez or tigana if they are available……..
Who will prevail?
Les blues ou les verts?
Let the best team win? – of course the pundits all say France, but can the experts be wrong?
Who knows? Oh what a beautiful game we follow.
The combination of workmen with the astute planning and preperation of a great Italian coach versus the undoubted talent of a deadly French team led by a coach who has a wonderful gift for producing “the goods” when the chips are down is probably the tie of the round.
Domenech’s achievement in persuading the return of the “old guard” in 2006 to get within a hair’s breath of the ultimate prize was an incredible feat – one which must not be underestimated.
He has re-invented a “new” France in the image of Giganou – what a fantastic find!
But do Ireland have any hope?
Of course they do – they are meeting France at a crucial point in the history of both teams.
Ireland is a small country – but one with a history of punching above it’s weight.
France is one of the World’s great nations – but prone to occasional bouts of anxiety and doubt. It’s history has seen periods of achievement and victory followed by terrible defeat.
The weight of history is an unseen but heavy burden.
France must score in Dublin. Do that and victory is assured.
What of Ireland?
Defend to the last man!
Let the games begin.
Posted from 
Ireland
A sincere apology. It’s Gignac of course not Giganou! sic
Posted from Ireland
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Final match is against Austria and then the play-offs in mid-November.
Posted from
United States