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Faroe Islands 0, France 1

August 12th, 2009 | By: jeff | 21 Comments »

What can you say about a match like that?

France kept a clean sheet.

Gignac scored a nice goal.

France controlled the match and created a lot of chances, but by conceding free kicks, they also gave Faroe Islands chances to score, and it could have been a disaster.

But it wasn’t.

I remember the last match in the Faroe Islands vividly, and it’s because the atmosphere, like today, was so bizarrely quiet. Most varsity sporting events at American High Schools have larger, more enthusiastic crowds. The construction workers watching the match from just across the end line looked they would use any excuse not to work, but they seemed to have very limited interest in the match.

It’s easy to imagine that the only spectators who mustered enough enthusiasm to cheer may have been related to Faroe Islands players.

France’s finishing was poor, aside from the goal, and France’s passing around the box lacked precision and intent, but it mostly seemed like they were trying, which, perhaps, makes it all the more strange that they nearly conceded an equalizer in 2nd-half stoppage time.

I almost had the line-up right. It was a 4-4-2. Gignac and Escude were in there instead of Benzema and Squillaci:

Gignac Anelka
Malouda Toulalan L.Diarra Gourcuff
Evra Escude Gallas Sagna
Lloris

I guess my suggestion that Gourcuff might disappear if he played out wide wasn’t too far off either, although he came into the match as the 2nd half wore on.

L.Diarra did well as a ball winner, but his passing was disappointing. Too many attempted long balls over the top.

A lot of France’s build-up play involved lofted balls that were hard to control, and gave Faroe Islands the chance to clear the danger. Not enough technical build-up play from France, not enough crisp passing on the carpet.

Still it was a victory, but hardly inspiring stuff.

Ribery did come on for half an hour. Like several others he had chances to score, but his finishing, like Anelka’s, was lamentable.

I’m looking forward to seeing other reactions to the match. It was a bit of a strange one.

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Comments

By Jack | August 12th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

Let’s just hope we don’t draw Russia or Croatia in the playoffs.

Posted from United States

By jeff | August 12th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

Your response, Jack, is representative of what I’m feeling after that match: It didn’t feel like we were watching group winners.

It’s just one match, the players are just coming back, and they could go on a run when in matters, like the knock-out stages of the World Cup, but it was disappointing that they didn’t show a little more nous around the box.

They were 80 percent there – getting to the endline, sending in crosses, but the crosses lacked intent. They were hit with force, but not the kind of quality and clever precision that makes a difference, and makes the game the beautiful game.

It’s a victory, so that’s great, but it was a missed occasion to have a goal fest, and that’s disappointing.

By Jean-Michel | August 13th, 2009 at 6:05 am

We could still win this group if we are perfect in the next 4 games (and Serbia loses not only to us but someone else) . Our recent form is not encouraging but Domenech has got a little less than a month to right the ship.

By Lekarlokin | August 13th, 2009 at 7:21 am

If France will win next 4 Match….France Become Group Champion…But it is Difficult

Posted from Bangladesh

By Lekarlokin | August 13th, 2009 at 7:22 am

If France will win next 4 Match….France Become Group Champion…But it will Difficult

Posted from Bangladesh

By Terry from Florida | August 13th, 2009 at 9:38 am

WHY WOULD IT BE DIFFICULT, we are not playing BRAZIL,OR ARGENTINA, if we can’t win against these teams WTF…i mean I don’t think holland would say if we win, they would say say WHEN WE WIN.Yes domenech is a problem but we are stuck with him,it’s kind of like being in a bad marriage that you can’t get out off,so you have to do the best with what you have and that’s going to be FROM THE PLAYERS.ANELKA he does not like to work hard,he does not really try, he should be off the squad,escude not good enough AND THANK GOD VIERRA IS NOT PLAYING

We have 2 ok goalies,WHY NOT CALL FREY what’s wrong with him? I feel though I don’t think his great let’s try MEXES one more time I still abidal though does not play that role enough would be better,kind of like BOSSIS back in the 80’s

I LOVE GIGNAC he should start,I would like to see more motivation, solve the n1 SPOT PROBLEM AND GET A DECENT CENTER HALF.Than it’s up to HENRY to Domenech to get get the job done.PLATINI did it as a player so it’s fair to say it can be done.I WILL BE THE COACH FOR 1 MINUTE,this is my team

FREY

SAGNA GALLAS ABIDAL EVRA

TOULALAN DIARRA

RIBERY MALOUDA

GNIGNAC HENRY

By Jeff | August 13th, 2009 at 10:57 am

Yeah, Gignac is working out really well. He’s a great player to watch.

There’s the makings of a decent team, there, with a few bright spots, and Gignac is one of those. After yesterday, why wouldn’t he have cemented himself a spot in the team?

He may well have done.

Posted from United States

By Steven | August 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

Hi Jeff,

Is there a parallel with the gunners here–do they lack heart?

Do they miss that tough-minded midfielder/defender who’ll bleed for the team (and maybe make a few of the team bleed for him)?

I can understand making Gallas captain of the NT (if only temporarily) but I wonder if he’s a little, um …. shy after his recent stripped captaincy with Arsenal. (But he was right wasn’t he? And couldn’t the same be said of the NT?)

I don’t think it’s Mad Dom’s fault anymore. These guys are professionals and so talented Domenech shouldn’t have to do much more than fill in the names he hands to the referee (or however it’s done).

Posted from Canada

By GFC | August 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

I must agree with Terry. Frey should be the French #1 (I also talked about that in my post http://tinyurl.com/n5gno2). I also agree with Steven, similar to the gunners, there appears to be a lack of heart, no emotional leader on the side. In 1998 Deschamps, Desailly, Thuram were the metal of the side, this carried over into the Euro 2000 triumph. The run in Germany, was led by the emotion and toughness of Vieira and the genius of Zizou. Ribery has the fire, but does not seem the natural leader for the side. Gallas, I agree, might be a little reluctant based on what happened last year with the Gunners. So who is there to take the role? Not sure…

Posted from United States

By Jao | August 13th, 2009 at 2:27 pm

There hasn’t been a leader of the team since the 06 World Cup. The problem is that the team is split down the middle into three sections, the old guard, guys like Gallas, Vieira, Abidal, Govou etc.,), who feels to believe that anyone new that comes into the squad is a threat to their position and and clout in the squad. Then there’s the new guard, guys like Benzema, Ben Arfa, Nasri, Diaby, Clichy, who the old guard believes are too cocky and haven’t earned and don’t deserve a spot on the team. Finally there’s the players caught in the middle, who can relate to both the old guard and the new guard. Ribery, Mandanda, Henry, Lass, Sagna, Toulalan, Evra are prime examples. Until Domenech gets the sack and we get a manager who can come in and tell the old guys to STFU and play, then their will be some heart in the team.

Posted from United States

By lefutur | August 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Just once I would like to see Domenech field a team with just 1 DM….I dont think we’ll ever see the day though, but either way Domenech’s time with Les Bleus wont last for very long at this rate.

@ Jeff – I dont think France played a 4-4-2 until Ribery came on. I didnt watch the game but thats what the commentators on Eurosport said. They said it was the 4-2-3-1 formation with Gourcuff in the playmaker role.

Posted from United States

By Terry from Florida | August 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

THIS REALLY IS UPSETING DOMENECH IS SO NOT IN TOUCH WITH THE FRENCH NATION, SA IS THE BEST POSSIBLE SPOT FOR FRANCE TO GET THEIR SECONDE STAR WHY? NEXT WORLD CUP 2014 IS IN BRAZIL SO LET’S NOT EVEN BOTHER WITH THAT ONE ,WHAT DOES SOUTH AFRICA MEAN TO MANY OF THE FRENCH PALYERS?SOME PLAYERS ARE BORN THERE IN AFRICA LIKE MANDANDA (GABON) THEY WILL HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE,COMPETING IN THEIR PARENTS OR GRAND PARENTS CONTINENT, THEY STRIVE FOR THEIR VALUES,FAMILY AND RESPECT AMONG THOSE WHO SUPPORT THEMN,I AM WHITE AND BORN IN IVORY COAST IF WAS ON THE NT IT WOULD BE AWSOME TO PLAY IN THE CONTINENT,AFRICA HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO FRENCH SOCCER,ASIDE THE AFRICANS TEAMS, FRANCE WILL HAVE A HHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGEE SUPPORT DON’T FORGET MOST OF AFRICA IS FRANCOPHONE,SO LET’S GET THERE HEALTY,DOMENECH ASIDE 1 OR 2 PLAYERS CAN’T REALLY F…. IT MORE THAN HE HAS AND LET’S TAKE THE SURROUNDING,THE SMELL OF THE WORLD CUP ,THE EXITMENT, LET’S GET RID OF PLAYERS WHO DON’T WANT THIS BAD ENOUGH,SHIT IF THE US PLAYERS WERE AS GOOD AS THE FRENCH THEY WOULD BE WORLD CHAMPIONS, AMERICANS DON’T NEED TO BE REMINDED WHAT THEY PLAYING FOR. I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH FRANCE IS MORE THAN DOMENECH AS WELL THEY NEED TO FEEL LOVED, SO YES WE CAN’T STAND DOMENECH BUT REALLY I WOULD RATHER PUT MY PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE A WIN THIS 2ND STAR THAT WE DESERVE, WE SHOULD HAVE WON IN 2006 AND IN 82 I DON’T WANT TO BE 80 WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN

By Michel-Olivier | August 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

the best formation is 4-4-2
————–frey————
clerc–gallas–squillaci–abidal
———–toulalan————
ribery—–gourcuff——Malouda
——-gignac—-benzema——-

sub:
lloris
carrasso
evra
planus
escude
chalme
Capoue
nasri
mollo
lass
henry
hoarau

Posted from United States

By Jean-Michel | August 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

Yeah that’ll work Michel-Olivier. I’m not a huge Benzema fan but I could get over it fast if/when he starts scoring.

By Jeff | August 13th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

There isn’t really a leader on the team, I guess, but I don’t know how much that’s really necessary. They’re all international players. Do they need someone encouraging them or instructing them on the pitch? So in 98, there were three leaders? Maybe.

In 98 they played total football and played everybody off the pitch. Thuram was a bad ass, though.

Lefutur – I guess it’s open to interpreation, but for me, Malouda was playing down the left. Gignac and Anelka were up front, with Anelka dropping into to the hole early on, but then staying all the way up front. Gourcuff was more on the right, but he wasn’t all that involved, because everything was down the left with Malouda and Evra, or Diarra balls over the top, mostly to Gignac. Ribery for Malouda was a straight swap at left midfield, at least the way I saw it.

Posted from United States

By evaldo | August 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

i don’t know how a team with so much talent has underperformed for so long. thoughts?

By André Assis | August 14th, 2009 at 6:47 am

Hi,

Sincerely, if Les Bleus aren’t playing like 98 or 06, it’s because they have the chance to win the World Cup, in South Africa.

Why? It’s simple – every time any team (may be France, England, Brazil, Argentina or Italy) arrives as favourite, it habitually loses. Alors… allez, les Bleus!

I would like, also, to invite you to visit the Museu do Futebol (Brazilian Football Museum), located at the Pacaembu Stadium, in São Paulo. If you will visit Brazil, take a look at our Museum of Football. Jules Rimet, Just Fontaine and, above all, Zizou, are present here. “Zidane il a frappé / Zidane il a tapé…” (a tapé le Brésil…).

Our blog on internet, called “Blog da Bola”, is located at

http://www.bloguedabola.blogspot.com

I hope you visit us virtually – and, most of all, personally.

Thank you,
André

By lefutur | August 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Similar to Michel-Olivier but I prefer Henry over Benzema and Lloris over Frey.

————–-Lloris————
clerc–gallas–squillaci–abidal
———–toulalan————
ribery—–gourcuff——Malouda
——-gignac—-henry——

I think Gignac has been a revelation at the striker role for Les Bleus. In contrast to Anelka he is energetic, dynamic and constantly try to push into the box. We need more players to follow his example.

And enough of the longballs over the top that never go anywhere. Either keep the ball on the ground and split the defense with a well placed pass or take the shot from distance. Gignac and Henry are capable of peppering the goal accurately and if they play together on the pitch at the same time with Gourcuff feeding them passes (just 1 DM!!!!) then the attack will have more bite. The key is moving the ball forward quickly and catching the defense off guard, not these slow build ups that let the opposing team regroup.

Posted from United States

By Terry from Florida | August 14th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

MR LEFUTUR, i like your team minus squilaci there got to be a better option for that position but who?we are blessed in every dept but that one , anyways you have my vote don’t think the coah has the balls to do it though

By Jean Pierre | August 19th, 2009 at 12:08 am

IfIWereDomenechWhichIWontIWouldPlay: (gignac,sagna,mexes,clichy i dont know)

————–-Frey————
clerc–gallas–squillaci–abidal
———–toulalan————
ribery—–gourcuff——Nasri
——-benzema—-henry——

but with T-H-E real and only one domenech it would be probably funnier like:

————–-mandanda————
boumsong–gallas–mexes–abidal
———–vieira————
diarra1—–diarra2——Malouda
——-sinamapongolle—-anelka——

By laurie | August 21st, 2009 at 8:29 pm

I’d forgotten about Clerc. What’s he up to these days?

Posted from United States

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