France Injury and Illness News

October 15th, 2007 | by: Laurie |

A few injury and illness updates that affect our France players.

First, Samir Nasri has recovered from his meningitis-type illness enough to give interviews, and he is less than happy with l’OM’s current domestic performance. I take this as a positive sign that he has survived the illness with his brain and mental faculties intact. This recovery won’t make him available for the Lithuania game, obviously, but I think he may be playing for OM against Lens on the 21st. If things go well, he may be available for France for the Ukraine game in November.

And in more possible good news for the Ukraine game, Willy Sagnol is back in training for Bayern Munich. I think of all the injuries this year, he’s the player I’ve missed most. It’s so easy to underrate his ability to drive the ball up the wings and then cross it accurately — until he’s not there and it’s not happening. I’m reading that he may be back in the Munich lineup in two to four weeks. Hurry up and heal, Willy!

Speaking of Willy, I found this fun link to a Sagnol English-language Bayern Munich page that includes the following details:
Attributes: loyal, warm, generous
Hobbies Movies, music, travel, TV, shopping
Motto “Live and let live!”

It also says he’s single, ladies. Just fyi.

In less happy news, Nicolas Anelka seems to have picked up a thigh injury in Saturday’s game and has been declared “forfait” for Wednesday. Good news for Karim Benzema, I think, but… Sigh. Nicolas has worked so hard to regain his spot on the NT. I hate the thought of anything that keeps him out of the lineup and allows Domenech to forget what he has to offer. (Trezeguet, anyone?)

Speaking of David Trezeguet, guess who was not called up to replace Anelka. Instead we’re getting Monaco’s Frédéric Piquionne.

Also out for Wednesday’s game is Julien Escudé. (Another injury that is breaking my heart.) No word on the nature of the injury, and Raymond Domenech hasn’t yet called up a replacement.

Oh, and it also looks as if Florent Malouda and William Gallas may be back in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game, and Lassana Diarra may replace Bakary Sagna at rightback. Are these good changes? You tell me.

That’s it for now. Cross your fingers that everyone else will stay healthy!

(Thanks to Doumé for the links.)

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Patrick

Ok, I might as well give up hope that Trezeguet will ever be selected again by Domenech. Domenech says it has to do with “concurrence?” That’s complete crap and everyone knows it. I can accept that Anelka, Henry, and even Benzema have a lot to offer to France. But Piquionne? Come on…
Patrick

When I posted the above message, I completely forgot that Trezeguet is a little injured right now. But I still think Domenech wouldn’t have selected him.
john

Sorry for going a tad off topic but has Zidane apologised to the Matrix yet?
http://lyon.theoffside.com Inara

Piquionne will never be an international French striker, so the message seems pretty clear to me (Domenech didn’t pick Cisse either, btw). Domenech likes to win and tick people off. And if he can’t win, at least he can tick people off.
sandrahn

Hurry up Willie!! Boy I’ve missed him! I don’t understand why Domenech is so lacking in defensive depth that he keeps relying on Thuram, Abidal and Makelele. While the game v. Lithuania will be difficult, I am more worried about the Ukraine game because it’ll be on their home ground. On Friday, when I heard about the possibility of the FI game being delayed due to weather problems, I thought “is this a bad omen?” I’m so nervous about France qualifying that I’m just tense about every little thing. Then I saw on Saturday morning that the game was on the air as scheduled. Then I saw all those 6 terrific goals — and thought “actually, this is a good omen! They started this game with diversity and uncertainty and then scored 6 beautiful goals.” And Benzema rocks!!

Still concerned about that defense, tho.
Annette

John,

All France is ashamed of ZZ actions and comport after the world cup. He continues to live in shame.
glatisant

:rollseyes at the above statement:
Actually, if such beliefs comfort the poster enough to keep from trolling, then hey, I’m not gonna complain…
john

Annette,

Good to know there are still sensible people and football fans out there.

As for glatitant….keep to rolling your eyes, it much more preferable than to reading your 2 bit, crayon scribbled comments.

Allez
glatisant

*sigh*
Have you found what you were looking for, john?
If so, will you consider leaving the rest of the board alone, now? You know, so that we can actually talk about, oh I don’t know, the French football team maybe?

I’m sure Sepp Blatter will be more than happy to inform you if the “reconciliation” you long for ever does takes place, by the way. You might consider trying here. Cheers.
john

*roll my eyes* *shake my head* *rub my hands*

glatisant,

I, Annette and indeed the entire civilized world are not looking for “reconciliation”. Simply for ZZ to finally do what should have been done 31.6 minutes after the event. Apologise to Matrix, Italians, Christians and the Pope.

Allez….*yawn*
glatisant

…In which case, you are looking in the wrong place. Let’s try the link again, shall we? Cheers.
glatisant

Oh, and I should say that the original link was to fifa.com, but when the Pope started getting involved, I figured perhaps the horizons needed to be expanded a bit. You’re welcome to try both out, though.

Apologies to Laurie for prolonging the whole discussion.
john

glatisant,

Why would you apologise to Laurie?

It must be a cultural thing with the French and their fans. You should be apologisng to me, Christians, Inter Milan, the Holy Father, Scotland and the Matrix (for starters).

That being said….Allez
glatisant

Because she deserves an apology, for the wasted bandwidth on her blog (to which this post is the latest addition, unfortunately). You are welcome to take my advice and go assuage your obsession elsewhere, or have the last word here.
john

last word