Domenech’s 30 Players

I’m also puzzled by and tired of the xenophobic argument. Does it help you, Michel-Olivier, that more than one-third of the provisional squad plays in Ligue 1? While Domenech can frustrate, his picks can also be attributed to how much deep talent France has available. Which, to my chagrin, helped leave out B. Sagna and Clichy, two of the Prem’s best backs. (Although why pick all three of Boumsong, Squillaci and Mexes?) But I’m glad that Flamini – despite his traitorous move away from the Arse – is in the squad, at least for now. If Domenech can instill cohesiveness, and they score goals, they should get to the final at least.

Posted from  United States

What an odd roster – a 30-man list, and there’s only room for 6 midfielders? It does seem like one of those ten strikers has to go, and Gomis is the one that sticks out. France has a ridiculous amount of attacking talent right now, from the experienced right down to the young ones.

Ian, France uses an odd classification system, where anyone who usually goes on the attack is considered an “attaquant.” The midfield is only the players who could play in central mid, like Makelele and Vieira. Players who would play left- and right- mid in 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 (the likeliest formations), like Ribery and Malouda, are considered attackers, as are straight-out strikers like Benzema and Henry.

Posted from  United States

the best squad for the euro should been like this
COUPET
FREY
LANDREAU
-
ABIDAL
CLERC
ESCUDE
EVRA
GALLAS
MEXES
SQUILLACI
THURAM
-
FLAMINI
MAKELELE
TOULALAN
VIEIRA
Bodmer
-
BEN-ARFA
MALOUDA
NASRI
RIBERY
-
Benzema
Henri
Trezeguet
-On standby
briand
Menez
clichy
anelka

Posted from  United States

No Clichy, but there’s room for Boumsong! I haven’t been watching Lyon this season, so maybe Boumsong has rediscovered his best form, but I’m still stuck with the images of some of his Newcastle performances – shocking stuff.

I’m disappointed that there’s no Clichy, but left back should be Evra’s position. The Evra situation reminds me of Ribery before the 2006 World Cup – it was obvious to everyone well before Domenech figured out that the player should be a lock in the first 11. We’ll especially need Evra in there on the left if Domenech persists with the lethargic Malouda.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Flamini make the cut at Alou Diarra’s expense.

And/or quietly retire from international play David @ Inara’s comment. I think the FFF is happy with Domenech’s work and if he leads the squad to a semi or final appearance then they will keep him till 2010. If Domenech’s around Trez should just content himself with the work he’s doing @ Juventus and go out as France’s 3rd all time leading goal scorer…for now.

Posted from  United States

hilarious that cisse makes it and the trez is screwed again. domenech is a douche.

Posted from  United States

I like trezeguet but his performance in the match against england was terrible. He was no where to be found and was not effective. If he can’t work with the team why should he go? He is ood for juventus but if he is not good for france then what does it matter? Anyways happy to see this list and most of the players I wanted are there. I am upset there is no clichy or rothen but oh well. My gues for the final squad:
Goal-Grégory COUPET
Sébastien FREY
Mickaël LANDREAU
Defense-Eric ABIDAL
Julien ESCUDE
Jean-Alain BOUMSONG
François CLERC
Jean-Alain BOUMSONG
William GALLAS
Philippe MEXES
Willy SAGNOL
Lilian THURAM
Midfield- Mathieu FLAMINI
Claude MAKELELE
Jérémy TOULALAN
Patrick VIEIRA
Florent MALOUDA
Samir NASRI
Franck RIBERY
Offense-Nicolas ANELKA
Hatem BEN-ARFA
Karim BENZEM
Sidney GOVOU
Thierry HENRY

Posted from  United States

I think Mandanda, Escude, Squillacci, Alou diarra, Mathieu flamini, benarfa and gomis will leave clairefontaine. Some players like Boumsong and Cissé are sure bets.

Posted from  France

I think this coach is an a$$, seriously, i dont care what anyone thinks about trez, i think he should have been in the squad before cisse atleast, can any one tell me what trez is missing, or better yet what is he not doing right.b sagna should have been included as well as clichy but but its understandable for sagna’s injury and for clichy, evra is at top form i would select clichy before abidal any day, but may be thats because i like arsenal.
Eric, how can you base you judgment about trez on only i friendly? can u explain that to me.

Posted from  United States

The England friendly was only the most-recent of Trezeguet’s shocking performances for France. The kindest verdict I’ve heard for Trezeguet’s recent run of France performances is that the system doesn’t fit his talents; an analysis not at odds with the assessment that it looks like France are playing with 10 men whenever he’s on the pitch.

I, too, would select Clichy ahead of Abidal any day, and I also agree that Evra’s in top form. Evra’s form is so good that I think Domenech might realize he’s a good choice for the first 11.

I actually wrote a much, much longer riposte tonight in comparison to the one I’m about to write here, but I’m too disappointed, not to mention shocked somewhat, at this to regurgitate what I’ve already written. All I will say though is I hope that Monsieurs Trezeguet, Mexès (I know he’s included but he’s been slighted as well), Clichy and Sagna are more than hungry come World Cup qualifiers.

C’est une grosse erreur que sagna et clichy ne figurent sur cette preliste.
c’est bien dommage mais bon avec Domenech faut bien s’attende a ce genre de suprise.

Posted from  United States

sagna(banana heard) is injured his not match fit.even if he goes he wouldn’t play a game just like chimbonda doing the WC.
i would take clerc and lasagna diara as back up.
sagnol haven’t play that much for munich this season he should be drop.

Posted from  United States

Michel-Olivier,

You’re probably one of those closet racist types that was over joyed when France won the 98 wc and 2000 ec. There was diversity then just as there is today. All that makes you is a hypocrite and racist for following the French team so closely.

Posted from  United States

Jean-Michel
im not a racist cause i don’t believe in evolution. race is made by theorists. im catholic and i believe in the bible, and the bible say god divided people by tongues, families, tribal/clan, nations, and lands rather than races. read Genesis 10:5,20,31/Revelation 7:9/Acts 17:26. so how can i be racist if i don’t believe in race.
all im saying is the french NT lack of players who are from the french culture. Dutch team have players who have different skin color however all the players have dutch names, and they have dutch culture and countries(suriname, aruba, dutch antilles, belgium) of origin that have dutch culture.

Posted from  United States

I’m almost glad that Trezeguet wasn’t included in the list of thirty, because you know that he’d be one of those dropped for the final list. And that would be almost a worse insult

Posted from  United States

Outacontrol, I like trezeguet but he is no longer good for the team. Its time to move on. He has clearly shown that he is not willing to put the effort in trying to play with the team. If he can find goals for juventus why can’t he for France? France has enough talent to win the Euro without him. I for one am statisfied with this thirty with a few exceptions, and I am sure the right 23 will be selected. Cheer up guys we have the talent and the determination to win. This will be our Euro.

Posted from  United States

Eric i got the point you trying to make, the reason am pissied off is i dont think the coack left him out because of talent or lack of eforts on trez’s side, i think the reason is personal, and i will give u my reasons,1. france as a team did not perform very well in the match against england or against spain,(am using these games because they are fairly recent), 2.with the strikers selected which one of them can you say have been superb for the french side lately, 3.which one them did better than trez club wise?, 4. is he he too old? i know i sound like a trez groupie which is super “homo” but i think he deserve a spot in the team.
If its true that they have personal issues i think one of them

Posted from  United States

I just don’t get the continuing reliance on Abidal, Thuram, Vieira and Makelele.

Sagna is injured. I feel sorry for Clichy but Evra is also a superb leftback and I don’t mind if Man United have to sweat over his fitness instead of Arsenal sweating over Clichy. Hope to see Flamini get some game time. I wish he’d stayed with us (Arsenal) but I don’t view him as a traitor. He’s got Italian background and always loved Serie A. He went to a bigger, more prestigious, glamorous club, fair enuf.

As for Trez…I just don’t think he’s effective under Domenech’s system. Maybe with another manager, he’d do France proud, but I just don’t think France can get the best of him under Domenech. So it’s better that he’s not included.

And Malouda may be disappointing at Chelsea but that’s due to Grant’s weaknesses. Mourinho wasted a lot of good players at Chelsea because he didn’t know what the hell to do with them (Robben, JCole to name only two). The same thing is happening with Malouda. I think he’s a great player for France, glad to see him included.

Posted from  United States

Domenech about Trezeguet:
“It’s a choice about the organization. I said it again and again, and so did David: there are four, five axial attackers. At some point, you have to make choices, take a decision, so that things get clear”
(even with the good season in Serie A)”It’s not my problem anymore, what concerns me now are the ones who will be there, the 30. I evaluated their season, they seem to be the most competitive in order to have a team and a group that are coherent for six weeks. I explain the reasons for my choice to the 30. I don’t have the perfect wisdom, there can be other possibilities. But I did this very choice and I tell the players who are selected: prepare yourselves”
http://www.lequipe.fr:80/Football/breves2008/20080518_124713_domenech-sur-trezeguet-coherent_Dev.html

Darn it took me 6 days to realise that Saha wasn’t in. It’s only a 1/2 surprise though.

Basically, lets get this right, there is experience which is needed, but why have cisse? he does nothing good except run, trezeguet is needed, he has been such an influence other the years, and formed a great partnership with henry, that got us to the final in 2006. Yes Benzema is class, but in order for him to cope at the young age, he needs to play with players he can learn off, and yes we may need clichy, but whats to say he will cope? Abidal is much better, but i feel clichy can offer more then evra. Now in the middle of the park, toulalan is class, and so is viera, makalele is still good but its time to admit he is coming on a bit with age, and doesn’t have much pace to offer, flamini is good but to be honest, he isn’t a standout performer. People that are just bigging up players because they play for their club, need to stop, this isn’t going to get France nowhere! I’m a France fan in and out, but when you see influencal players being left off because of a bad game, you fear the worst. Menez shouldn’t be on standby, or whatever he should be in there, him and Hatem Ben Arfa, are two players countries will struggle with because of their youth and talent, same with the likes of Yoann Gourcuff, who isn’t anywhere to be seen. And if Frey doesn’t start in goal, then thats unbelievable.