France News: Abidal, Clichy, Gourcuff Starting?!?!? (Leave Game-Time Comments Here)

Imagine my situation.

I come home last night from 5 days in total wilderness, no phone connection or anything. As I click on the link for this site, I’m still thinking about my 1-0 pronostic against Austria; well I got the 1 right at least. First thing that comes to mind (re Mexes) is “sabotage” but really in the next second I realise nobody in their right mind would do that. So I’m scrambling for highlights and well, what can I say. Chabal wouldn’t be ashamed of this put-down, only he would have made it a little more stylish.
I’ve gone through some of the comments, which still doesn’t really give me an idea of how the game went. Not sure from what I see that Domenech is to blame. I mean, I would think whether it’s Abidal/Evra, Benzema/Anelka, etc, you can still come up with a good group, it’s not like putting together a clock with the wrong parts.
When there’s experience, then there’s not enough youth. And vice-versa.

OK I think at this point I’d do away with the 442. Back to 06.
And while I think Domenech is not the Devil, I’m starting to think that he has to go, because too many things in the players’ mindset suddenly became too complicated and un healthy. That sort of things just cannot work. People are self-conscious and act like each pass they attempt will be scrutinized and criticized. Solid player at club level suddenly become self-questioning statues. What never let us down before is now a concern, the defense.
L’Equipe I think said it pretty well, we’re not Europe’s Brazil anymore; we have to become Anglo-Saxon and win however it happens (Govou, 3 goals streak, I wouldn’t laugh at that) and whatever it takes.

And YOU (you know who you are), please get well soon.

Hi Laurie,

Hmmm … apparently Nasri has withdrawn from the line-up of today’s game after complaining of a sore knee (again). I wonder what’s up with that … did he know he wouldn’t start?

Things could get ugly at Stade de France if Serbia gets an early lead …

My (hopelessly unfounded) prediction: France 1 (Govou), Serbia 0

Laurie, Nasri is reportedly injured.

Thanks for the update, guys. I was going to check for an injury report on Nasri but forgot.

I do find it interesting that Malouda is apparently now the third choice at left mid?

Also, Doumé, I forgot to post highlights of the previous game (or lowlights, as the case may be) but they’re in this post:

http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-qualifying/euro-world-cup-qualifying-opens-with-upsets.html

Laurie, I wonder if Malouda’s comments–the ones that presumably got him a seat in the stands in Vienna–reflect a greater dissension in the team. Or rather, dissatisfaction with Domenech. I mean, as far as I can tell, those comments came out of nowhere …

We all heard the public support by players for Domenech last July, but in the last week … um, not so much.

The crazy conspiracy theories surround Mexes are, well … crazy, but the players are probably no more inspired by him than the rest of us.

I am sad to say I think some of the players defended Domenech in July when they realized that if they spoke out against him, they would get treated the way Malouda is right now. So, in the higher interest of serving their country, they decided to prevaricate and tell everyone, “yes, keep Domenech, he is a good manager.” Now that they sense blood, they have no qualms in taking Domenech down if they realize he won’t be sélectionneur much longer.

Although it would shock me if a Domenech favorite (either Diarra or Govou as examples) would speak out against him.

Oh, and the FFF has actually confirmed that indeed, the Gourcuff-Govou lineup is the actual starting XI.

Anybody have working links? I’m watching on JumpTV, so I haven’t been looking.

P.S. I couldn’t hear — who did the crowd boo after the players were announced? Was it Domenech?

Apparently, Benzema will be on the left and Henry the lone striker of a 4-5-1 formation similar to the one they used in WC 06. Why not? It makes sense to do this if you are absolutely hell bent on having 2 DMs. Now that his job is definitely on the line, Domenech is going back to what worked for him in the past: defense first and hope the goals follow. I wouldn’t be surprised if the match ended in a 0 – 0 draw. That should allow him to stay on for at least another match.

National anthems right now. Mandanda looks nervous. And I really miss the loud, enthusiastic, out of tune way Thuram used to sing the Marseillaise.

Team is looking peppy so far. Let’s just hope they can actually score.

Yeeks. Clichy is looking defensively sketchy.

This looks like a rather interesting game. Despite losing captain Stanković in the first minute, we look like a better side at the moment. That could easily change, however, so forget I’ve said anything…

Beautiful header by Henry. SO CLOSE!

France are playing better than they did on Saturday. Much more urgency.

Yeesh, the commentator didn’t recognie Karembeu OR Thuram. Who is this guy?!?

Laurie, are you watching setanta? I’m watching it on an arab channel on justin.tv.

How can you not blame Domenech? Sure the players must take some of the blame when they screw the pooch like Mexes but the team is stacked with players who play in the top teams in europe. So it is not as if we don’t have good players. It is a combination of strategy and putting a team that works… the job of the coach.

great, the feed just went down!

Mandanda to the rescue!!!

I paid for the JumpTV feed, so I’ve got a great video.

I’m really likeing Gourcuff in this position. He adds an element of unpredictability.

I’ve tried jump.tv several times and I can never get past the “test video” stage because it never works. I can never see it. So I always stop the subscription process.

ok, looks like I got another working link…hope it lasts.

france should attack from mid-field not wingers because its not working. the serbs seems to be highly organized their. anything they throw at them is countered with headers. a surprise on serbs from mid field then cross over an attacker would work

Yeah, I’ve heard of other people having that problem with JumpTV, but fortunately they’ve always worked well for me.

Wow. Gourcuff is impressing the hell outta me. Yoann, I’m sorry I doubted you. Keep it up.

gaston, good point, every attack down the wing is so easily snuffed out.

sandrahn where are you watching the game?

the match is in tele 5 monde for usa viewers.
no i’m not watching it the family is.

Eric, I’m watching it on this link: http://merakradio.com/

I subscribe to DIRECTV satellite and they don’t have TV5. Setanta’s showing it later today (I do get setanta) at 6:45.

Michel-Olivier, So I’ve just wasted 4.99 Euros when I could have been watching it on TV?!?!?

AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!

Oh well, I think I can download through JumpTV too.

Oh my Lord. Anelka for Benzema? Don’t let us down, Nico!!!

Anelka in? Isn’t this a sign that France will lose the game?

just clicked on the link that sandrahn gave and the first thing i see……Anelka………sign of the end ?

yeah, my heart just sank.

Henry on the Wings ? this isn’t a barcelona game, wtf lol

thank you Henry

HENRY!!! HENRY!!! HENRY!!!

lol Anelka, you never fail to amuse me

Hey we’ll take that! Thanks Titi.
also,
Lithuania 2- Austria 0

benzema was ineffective because the ball couldn’t get to him. unless if he could mark defenders which he wasn’t

now that kind of chip is one i want to see france play, that was effective and produced a goal

Nico! Nico! Nico! What have I been telling you guys?!?!?!?!?

YES YES YES YES ALLEZ LE FRANCE ALLEZ!!!!! What a difference Anelka made and what a GOAL!

I TAKE BACK THAT “HEART SANK” COMMENT, NICO!!!

well i guess anelka is good for something after all

In the first half Gourcuff was playing rubbish but he is showing his class now.:)

hmmmmmmm, are we seeing Gourcuff solidify a place in the Starting eleven lol

i think we are

And Henry almost again!

i know it’s only Serbia, but I feel like I have my team back.

@ Pierre gourcuff was the most effective player in 1st half and more in 2nd half. he assisted both goals

Laurie, Serbia are a decent team, certainly much better than Austria.

Henry’s moves were great, would’ve been a fantastic goal.

France were missing a proper play maker since Zizou left but it looks like in , Gourcuff we might have a replacement. Cant wait to see Gourcuff and Ribery playing together

Wow Gourcuff! So Close!

Gaston im not really sure bout best player made quite a few mistakes and went down to easily 4 my liking but he was really unlucky to score there!

gourcuff hit the post

gourcuff meet post, post meet gourcuff

This is amazing. We’re winning every single 50-50 ball. Our team has come alive at last!!

Crap. I can’t believe that. We suck at set pieces.

Darn! 2-1

poor defending from abidal

hope france doesn’t lose hope because of that goal

hmmmmmm

MERDE! SET PIECE AGAIN!!!

Wow we suck at set plays dont we every train for them at training?

hmmmmmmmmmmm…..

plus, nasri wears hats ! lol

shit my connection is down

I can’t watch.

hmmmmmmmmmm……

im liking the fact that we’re getting killed by set play. and by like i mean utterly hate.

France moral is down from excited to normal, lets see what happens

Diarra for Govou.
I guess we’re putting up the wall now.

why are diarras defenders????????????

hmmmmm, alou diarra for govou, i guess Domenech loves having DM’s on the field

Three DM’s on the pitch? I doubt Domenech would keep his job regardless of the result.

hey !!! its squillaci in the the stands

yea, offically there are three DMs on the field, but i think Lassana Diarra and Toulalan are playing like box-to-box cms at the moment lol

Hey, that was a handball!

Here comes Fla-Fla for Gourcuff

Phew! It’s over. The end was pretty nerve-racking.

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh flamini

flamini for gourcuff

good game by gourcuff. and Domenech flinally puts flamini in for a game

We held on! We didn’t give up! We did it! That’s my boys!!!!!

scratch that, game over, flamini will have to wait to actually PLAY

the only reason france won was because gourcuff was having a good game

Yeah i would say finally points on the board abd i cant believe Lithuania won again!

Michel-Olivier, knock it off with your bitchy sour grapes crap. What a load of bullshit. France played well, Gourcoff wasn’t the ONLY good player out there. You’re so full of hate for this team that you can’t ever comment intelligently about them. Try watching a France game with some objectivity for once.

Gourcoff does look very promising.

haha michel-olivier you can’t say anything bad now, can you? We know set-pieces are our weakness, but apart from that all you can say is that gourcuff played well. That’s a positive, i’ll remind you. Imagine if gourcuff, benzema, henry, ribery and nasri all played well. Maybe i’ll dream that tonight, and wake up pretty damn excited

OK, we’ll take it. 3 points.
Re: Lithuania leader, that sounds good for us I think.
Romania 1-0 with Feroe, hmmm.

…and the only reason that France beat Brazil in 98 and 06 was that Zidane was having a good game.

France didn’t play very well but did what all great teams do – won the match. Gourcuff played excellent, and so did Toulalan – the match was definetely won in a midfield battle. This group is still open, though, with Lithuania defeating Austria we’re back to square one with France, Serbia, Austria and Romania all having 3 points, while Lithuania tops the group with 6. Can’t wait the next round of matches, Serbia needs a morale boost!

“and the only reason that France beat Brazil in 98 and 06 was that Zidane was having a good game” — LOL, Doume! As a Brazilian who watched that game with such pain in my heart but–schizophrenically–was also totally seduced by that beautiful engine of a French team, I salute you.

Hey Nikola, good luck, your guys gave France a tough fight.

Sandrahn,
I understand Brazil is doing good these days, like 3-0 against Chile I think? Good then, we’ll meet again for a rematch!

Hey i got an idea to improve the set players bring LeBouf back LOL:)

everyone played well, henry and anelka were very effective offensively today, they kept on pushing harder and harder (its what they are meant to do). the defense was good as well, except that poor defending from abidal which cost us a goal. the midfield was well organized, not perfect but extremely good, it took second half to realize for france how to use its midfield effectively

domenech should base his strategy on the strength of his players. gourcuff is an example of player who was given his role and played well in turn making the strikers play well as well

Doumé, it ain’t gonna happen. We haven’t beaten you guys since 1958!!!! Not in any friendly or competitive game. You’re our bogey team. Doesn’t matter if zidane is playing or not, we can’t beat you. The best we can do is draw. The only way is if Pele and Garrincha are suddenly reincarnated.

As for the Chile game….yeah, it was good but nothing to write home about. France and Brazil are both burdened with the wrong managers.

Sure, Pele and Garrincha, OK, but that gives us the right to bring Platini and Zidane (and Fontaine) back also!
Well anyway you know what they say about curses, like for Spain…

Doumé, just the image of all those players on the same pitch gets my heart going!!!

Speaking of Zizou, doesnt gourcuff remind you of him! lol i know everything says that about every attacking midfielder in france, but seriously. he played really well of a REAL first game, and of such importance!

Thanks, sandrahn. I actually do like French football and the France NT, so I really hope both of these teams are going to qualify in the end. And of course, Serbia as the group winner and France as the runner-up…

Good game……..so the real question now…what happens with our manager? I don’t know if I want to wait in limbo seeing if things continue. How long does he plan on being in control of this team?

Benjamin, I was thinking the same thing about Gourcuff. He was everywhere today, making things happen.

Obviously a 22-year-old isn’t going to have a lot of consistency, so he’s bound to have some bad games, but I sure liked what I saw today.

Now we need to think of a way to incorporate ben arfa, ribery, benzema, nasri, and gourcuff into one team…

how do you think the cap clichy movement went?

I think Clichy needs new boots. I saw him face plant (or at least go down on at least one knee or hand) at last three times when he needed to be defending.

Other than that, I thought he did pretty well. Not sure if I’d prefer him or Evra, though, although I’m tempted to say don’t mess with anything from today!

@ Ben
——–defense——–
——–toulalan——
ribery–gourcuff–nasri
—benarfa–benzema—–

Close Michel-Olivier. I think its Henry & someone else. I’m not going to jump on the Anelka bandwagon just yet. He has a tendency of being streaky. Not knowing Gourcuff well, I was stunned by what I saw today. Took his responsibilities in mid-field and pushed forward just about everytime, coming very close on a few occasions. He’s already taking all of the set pieces…what an honor it must be for him. Looks like a starter to me. Move over everyone else and yes Benjamin, he reminded me of Zizou. Looked more like a #10 than Benzema (not sure why he is wearing that #). Speaking of which, is it me or has Benzema been invisible since the Euro? How about a bench BOTH Diarra’s movement? They both looked clumsy today. Overall I definitely noticed more shots on goal and the team pressing forward with more urgency. The link from midfield to the attack once again seemed to be an issue but Gourcuff is definitely part of the solution.