If Gourcuff isn’t available, or if he’s out of form, I’d use the same formation with Nasri or Ribery in there.

With Henry, the expectations are so high, even when he’s one of the best players on the pitch, people can still be disappointed. For me, when Henry is on the left of the attacking midfield in the 4-2-3-1, France look like they’re on the front foot. He still looks like France’s best player to me, and I think left attacking midfield in a 4-2-3-1 is the spot where he can be the most productive. Again, for me, this is so clearly the best formation for France, I’m perplexed that not everyone else, including Domenech, agrees.

JP (not the Dutch JP on here) expressed his thoughts on Domenech’s use of the 4-2-2-2 in this blog post: http://lesbleusfrancefoot.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/france-0-scotland-1/

I tend to agree with JP’s assessment (My word, that second 1-0 loss to Scotland was painful)

When France are playing the 4-2-3-1, especially with Henry wide left, there’s some life to the team. Everything else Domenech has tried has been lifeless.

As for who to play up front in the 4-2-3-1, Anelka or Benzema could be fine. Louis Saha would probably do really well there – he’d probably be my first choice, if he’s healthy. There are probably others as well.

It helps to have someone up there who’s good in the air, because that creates more options. Saha, although he’s not very tall, is fantastic in the air, and he can score goals.

As for Squillaci, he has been a solid club player especially when he played for Monaco and Lyon. For a while I think most in France thought he and Givet could be the back central pairing for Les Bleus.

While Les Bleus do have numerous options on offense, I feel that few can play the point on top of the formation. The one player that really fits that mold now is Anelka, otherwise lots of the players are more wide strikers or wingers – Ben Afra, Menez, Nasri, Ribery, Henry, Luyindula, Remy, etc. Benzema seems to need another stiker to be at his best as does Hourau with PSG. Maybe Les Bleus need to go back to a 4-4-2 or more of a 4-2-2-2, allow Gourcuff and Ribery to float behind the stike duo.

Anyways, more thoughts on the game – http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/2009/03/oooof-merci-ribery-france-gets.html

I agree with you about Henry; he should be played on the left as that’s what he does for Barca and Benzema is better in the center than on the right where he seems lost in this match. Ribery should play behind the striker; he is wasted on the wing.

Anthony – This match wasn’t much of a test for the defense, so Squillaci had very little to do. My general sense is that he could do well for France. He looked comfortable in this match. How’s he been doing for Sevilla?

I also like Squillaci. Hard to tell what he would offer against a really strong team, but against Lithuania he did well. He’s such a low-drama player compared to Mexes. None of those brilliant last-second tackles, but no dragging down anybody in the box by wrapping his arms around their waists, either.

As I’m sure you heard, the TV5Monde announcers were saying that he’s settling in really well at Sevilla. And since Sevilla is sitting third in La Liga (after Real Madrid and Barcelona) that has to be pretty good, right?

Anybody know if he’s been pairing up with Escude regularly? I’ve always liked Escude and am always disappointed when he seems to be perennially injured at international time.

big consistent four: gourcuff&toulalan&ribery&henry (henry less)

lyindula is a fairly good player but I prefer Nasri or Benzema over him, so lyindula can sit on the bench

+ domenech has to work on freaking player positions because benzema was striking the other way around as if he didnt know where he was

@ahmad: nowhere but u can watch match-in-45-min on Eurosport but it has crappy litouwen-fan commentators

but i’m tired of 1-0 scores. would like minimum of 2 to nothing