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Coupet Out Till December

August 7th, 2007 | By: Laurie | 11 Comments »

No, I have not forgotten this blog! Sorry for my silence lately — busy, out of town, distracted, etc. I will try not to let it happen again. It’s easy to let French soccer slip my mind during the off-season, (especially since I write an MLS blog and they’re at a very busy point in the season) but with Ligue 1 up and running again my mind is turning back toward French football. I watched Lyon play on Sunday and happily remembered why I fell in love with the French style of play in the first place.

So what’s up with French NT players right now? Well, we’ve had several transfers, several more potential transfers, and one set of divorce proceedings. More on those later. For now though, the big news is that goalkeeper Grégory Coupet is out till December with a major knee injury. This is not good news for either Lyon or the France NT, particularly with the big Italy and Scotland Euro qualifiers coming up in the early part of September.

So what happened to Coupet’s knee?

Seems he tore a ligament in practice last week after his foot got caught in the net. (Yeesh. Of all the embarrassing and unexciting ways for a keeper to get seriously injured.) He underwent surgery yesterday and it apparently went well, but he’s still facing longterm rehabilitation before he’s fit to play again.

So what does this mean for the France NT? Mickaël Landreau or Sébastien Frey? I have to say I wasn’t 100% comfortable with Landreau in the last game. He wasn’t severely tested, if I’m remembering correctly, but I’m not sure he has the reflexes and eye for the game that Coupet has. Or maybe he’ll come alive under pressure? What do you think?

I’m wondering if anybody else thinks that Italy might be the perfect time to give Frey his first cap and baptism by fire on the National Team? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play myself, other than in highlight videos. (Which are, by the way, impressive. But most highlight videos are.) But he plays for Fiorentina and gets raves from Serie A fans. And the fact that he plays in Italy means he has some experience facing these guys week in and week out. That has to count for something, right? At least it does in my book. We’ll see what Raymond thinks in a few weeks.

And last but not least, what does Coupet himself have to say about the injury?

“That’s life”, Coupet told his club’s television channel, OL-TV. “It’s not the end of the world. I heard a crack and I feared it could be much worse. The good side to it is that we have a rugby World Cup coming and I’ll be able to enjoy every bit of it.”

It’s funny. I watched a Coupet interview early this year, several months after all of the Domenech strife of last summer. I noticed that Coupet was solemn-faced throughout the entire interview until he started talking about rugby. Then he actually smiled. I’m wondering if this could be a pre-retirement voice we’re hearing?

I hope not.

For more news on Coupet’s injury and how it affects Lyon, be sure to check out Inara’s OL blog.

Tags: France, Gregory Coupet, Mickaël Landreau, Sébastien Frey

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Comments

By MB | August 7th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

This is really gonna make it hard for France to beat Italy next month…by the way Laurie, what do you think Trezeguet’s chances are of being called up again now that he’s back in Serie A?

Posted from United States

By Martha | August 7th, 2007 at 3:39 pm

FRREEEEEEEEYYYYY!!

*ahem*

I’m secretly convinced the reason he got rid of his hideous, braid-laden summer hairdo was so he could look serious in case Raymond D happened by. As I’ve shouted before, Frey is brilliant deserves a chance — why the hell not just throw him out there and let him prove himself?

Posted from United States

By Seb | August 7th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

I actually started a thread at BigSoccer on this, with my pick being Frey, and he’s winning!

The only thing is, knowing Domenech, the choice will likely be Landreau, which isn’t that bad a decision, as he looked terrific in PSG’s opener.

Considering the match is against Italy, I can only hope that Serie A stars will get call-ups. I’m thinking Vieira, who likely was going to get a call anyway, Trez, Frey, Mexès and Gourcuff, especially if they’re on form, deserve spots. I think I’d start the majority of those too.

By Laurie | August 8th, 2007 at 12:27 am

I’d love to see the Italian contingent too. But I think it’s too early for Trezeguet. My guess is that Domenech wants him to prove himself in Serie A again before calling him up. And with Henry healthy again and Anelka in form, I don’t think he’d play anyway.

Posted from United States

By skillz | August 8th, 2007 at 8:03 am

relax you guys are sitting pretty comfortable in your group. My hope is that italy loses most of their next games and that france and ukraine qualify.

Posted from Canada

By sandrahn | August 8th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

YEAH, she’s back!!! Missed you Laurie!

I was pretty upset when I heard about Coupet–France have Scotland and Italy to play next. I do think Frey is up to the task. But Domenech will probably choose Landreau, who I’m not so sure about. It’ll be tough to beat the Italians on their home turf–the more French players from Serie A the better.

Posted from United States

By Jan | August 9th, 2007 at 5:07 pm

I’d give Frey a chance although I suppose Landreau alreadyhas some Ligue 1 games on his legs. Frey knows Italian football and might turn in useful there.

Allez la France!

Posted from Italy

By Francois | August 10th, 2007 at 10:14 am

I really think France and Italy will qualify skillz. The Ukraine was unable to beat either of these teams so they have quite a mountain to climb. Without Shevchenko Ukraine are a pretty mediocre team. I don’t think it will be a Euro without the two world cup finalists in it.

Posted from Canada

By Patrick | August 12th, 2007 at 11:25 pm

Trezeguet has been looking pretty good pre-season with Juve. He’s scored four goals in four matches. Hopefully Domenech has been paying attention. Henry, on the other hand, has only scored one goal with Barcelona and it was a tap-in from a missed penalty!

Posted from United States

By Inara | August 13th, 2007 at 12:03 am

Landreau’s form so far as been pretty good. I think he’ll start above Frey. Having never seen Frey in action (I don’t really watch Serie A sides other than in the CL), I don’t know what France is missing.

I hope Domenech doesn’t put Thuram in the lineup. Italy’s strikers are fast and strong (think Luca Toni and Totti and even Pippo), and as much as I love Tutu, I am worried too.

Posted from United States

By Seb | August 13th, 2007 at 12:13 am

Indeed, I’ve heard Trez has been in good form in the preseason as well, but I wonder if Raymond is noticing it at all.

I think Landreau will start too, though I believe Frey is the better keeper in almost every department, and especially in reflexes. He’s also bigger, hence better in the air, better at handling, and so on. Don’t get me wrong, I actually like Landreau a lot and he’d start I think on any NT out there. It’s more that Frey is, I think, the best keeper France has produced since I’ve been following the NT (almost a decade now).

I wouldn’t mind starting Thuram against Italy, but I’ve been clamoring for a Gallas-Mexès central defense since the World Cup!

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