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Ben Arfa Out, Briand in for France, plus: is Nasri Starting Over Malouda?

September 3rd, 2008 | By: Laurie | 19 Comments »

Hatem ben Arfa is out of the upcoming qualifiers with continuing issues with his adducteurs. He’s been replaced by Jimmy Briand of Rennes — another player I’d like to see get a cap eventually.

The really bad news for Hatem is that the injury is looking like more than just a pulled muscle. Sport24 is hinting that he may require pubalgie surgery.

(Somewhat awkward question that is probaby best aimed at the guys. Is that the same as what folks in the States refer to as “sports hernia surgery”? Not that I want details or anything. Just a simple yes or no would be fine.)

So ben Arfa’s out, Briand is in. What else is going on as the team gets ready for the qualifiers?

Well, it looks as if Samir Nasri will be getting the nod over Florent Malouda to start on Saturday. According to l’Equipe, the team was divided into three groups for practice. Two included probable starters and one…didn’t. The “probable starters” groups boiled down to: Bakary Sagna at rightback, Patrice Evra at leftback, William Gallas and Philippe Mexès at centerback, Jeremy Toulalan and Lassana Diarra at center midfield, Sidney Govou at right mid, Samir Nasri at left mid, and Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema in the middle. Toss in Steve Mandanda and we’ve got a starting eleven.

Also, as reader Metamoralia pointed out in the comments, Malouda recently came out and criticized Raymond Domenech for scapegoating him in Euros. Since Metamoralia didn’t remember that happening and neither do I, the obvious conclusion is that Malouda knew he was going to be benched.

Some of what Malouda said:

Malouda insists that he had been asked to operate in a more defensive role by Domenech and should have been given more support.

“At the Euros I played as the coach asked me to play,” Malouda told L’Equipe.

“What disappointed me is that he has not spoken on the subject. There was a speech given in private but not in public.”

He goes on to say that he wasn’t given the freedom to go forward the way he would have liked. Which is very possible, and I feel bad for him.

But I’m still looking forward to seeing what Samir can do as a starter.

Tags: Euro 2008

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Comments

By sandrahn | September 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Show your stuff, Samir! Just don’t get injured! Nasri sealed not only the love of the gooner faithful on Saturday but the admiration of most football fans and pundits in England when he clipped professional thug Joey Barton and sent him flying in retaliation for a vicious tackle. Barton’s the most loathed player in England, even his club’s own fans don’t cheer him.

Posted from United States

By Jennifer | September 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Fingers are crossed for an Alou Diarra or Gourcuff sub in. I think in terms of quality, Gourcuff is definitely up there in technical terms with Nasri and ben Arfa (and dare I say, Benzema?). He just needs that chance. I think I’m quite content with the starting XI being less old. The only disappointment I have is that Clerc won’t be able to play for a hideously long time (do you think there’s a chance that because of his lack of participation in the qualifying, that he won’t be able to make the final WC team? Because that would kill me.)

By Jean-Michel | September 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm

I guess it all depends on if Sagna and company leave the door open for him to come back. I don’t know where Sagnol is in all this. Has he officially retired, is he injured, or has he too fallen out of favor with the coach?

Posted from United States

By Benjamin | September 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm

Anyone else still not really satisfied with this formation?
Govou and Diarra are a waste of space on a team with players
like Flamini, Gourcuff, Ben Arfa (before his injury) ready to shine.

And Sagnol go injured AGAIN! what a shock to everyone

By Ronald | September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 pm

I would Understand dropping Diarra, im not too sure about Govou, he has proven befoe that he can be occasionally Frisky and score A goal. But i do agree that Gourcuff and Ben Arfa need to be in the need at some point.

…..hopefully Benzema and Ben Arfa can get over there disdain for each other and perform for the national team.

By Eric Escander | September 4th, 2008 at 12:24 am

Please,please put in Flamini this time! Oh and the same goes for Gourcuff. Flamini could do so much for the team and as for Gourcuff well I have never seen him play so I can not say much but everyone has faith in this guy and he deserves a chance to prove himself. Isn’t there anyone else we can replace Ben Arfa with than Jimmy Briand?

Posted from United States

By princedesparcs | September 4th, 2008 at 12:39 am

Though I’m not totally satisfied, there’s pluck in that projected 11, esp. with Nasri, who’s been a joy to watch on and off the ball so far this season, and it’s not hard to imagine that squad can gel pretty quickly. But I’d also like to see Flamini out there, and look forward to getting Ribery back. Still, I sense goals and six important points from the two games. Allez!

Posted from United States

By metamoralia | September 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

About Ribery, apparently Klinsmann has him pencilled in for a Sept. 27th return date. He trained today with his club team, BM …

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gIHFwO503QGGvJ3-ojumL7QugXFg

Posted from Canada

By Jean Pierre | September 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

coool to see that big headed nasri play!
is willyyy sagnol injured btw? too bad, is he retired or not? he was one of domenechs favourite guys though

i havent heard much about jimmy briand (yet)

Posted from Netherlands

By Jean Pierre | September 4th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

cooll:D

i missed tifranck ribéry

Posted from Netherlands

By Benjamin | September 4th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

TO Ronald: Although Benz and ben Arfa dont get alont very well,
when they r on the field they are a joy to watch.
Almost all of Ben Arfa’s assists at the beginning of last season where to Benzema,
which is one of the reasons apart from his god-like skill that Benzema scored so much.
And because Benzema scored so much and got attention, Ben Arfa started getting
an attitude and being jealous.

Basically its something that sounds like high school girl drama to me

By Jean Pierre | September 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am

ben arfa attention seeker

Posted from Netherlands

By Magnusson | September 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am

I still can’t believe he picked Briand. The guy hasn’t trained in three months and is getting up there in age. He scored three goals last year. he’s subpar even for Rennes. When you see other young players like Loic Remy, Guillaume Hoarau playing well for months, scoring goals and Domenech doesn’t see them.
Jimmy Briand is useless. Someone like Florent Sinama-Pongolle is in one of the best players in Spain these days. We’re still not there yet.

By Michel-Olivier | September 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am

@ Magnusson
i agree Sinama-Pongolle or hoarau should of get a call

@ Ben
“when they r on the field they are a joy to watch.”
are you blind mate, ben arfa is a selfish player. nasri and benzi is a “joy to watch”.

Posted from United States

By Seb | September 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm

I agree that Rémy especially deserves more to replace Ben Arfa than Briand. He has done very, very well at Nice thus far.

By Benj | September 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Gourcuff is a strange selection. He’s started a couple of games for Bordeaux after being a benchwarmer at AC Milan and somehow that’s enough for a call up? I guess Raymond must feel they need another “creative” player on the team with Ribery and Ben Arfa out. Either that or somebody at the FFF forced his hand.

Also, there are many strikers that are better than Briand and who deserve a call up more than him. Sinama-Pongolle and Hoarau have been mentionned but even somebody like Steve Savidan, who is solid if not spectacular would be a better choice than Briand.

It would be great if Flamini started instead of L. Diarra. We would get a lot more from him I think.

By Benjamin | September 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Ben Arfa is a selfish pllayer, Michel-Olivier,
but he is still a joy to watch with the way he gets past players
without the showy moves like ronaldo. and when this guy passes,
which is pretty rare, it usually ends up in a goal!

i agree with everyone about briand, but domenech probably picked him
because briand was an espoir when domenech was the coach for the youth teams
and they have a love affair like the coach does with diarra

By jeff | September 5th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

I like watching Ben Arfa play. He’s an exciting player. I hope he’ll be a huge player for France - 20 goals, 80 caps, and a trophy or two.

By Eric Escander | September 5th, 2008 at 9:10 pm

I want to throw a name into the mix. When talking about who would have been a better choice to replace Ben Arfa many names come up but one name I haven’t seen mentioned is Xavier Pentecote. Now granted he is quite young but he is impressive. This guy is good at scoring and he does it quite often. If Domenech was looking more for a winger than just a striker than maybe he’s not the guy but if you want a young talent who can score I think he is the man. Another name that should of been brought up is Jeremy Menez but I’ll leave it at that.

Posted from United States

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