France’s (Way Too Long) Injury List for Argentina

Raymond Domenech will announce his call-ups for the February 7 France-Argentina friendly next Thursday, February 1. But a few of our regulars (and favorite non-regulars) probably won’t be there. We’ve had WAY too many out with injuries lately. So what’s their status at the moment?

The nineteen-year-old I so totally want to adopt, Lyon striker Karim Benzema, is still out with a thigh injury. It looks like his first cap won’t come in February. Let’s cross our fingers for March.

William Gallas is also still out, and also with a thigh injury. (What is it with my boys and their thighs?) No word on when he’ll be back playing again. My guess? Just as soon as it’s too late for Raymond Domenech to call him up for the France-Argentina friendly. Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger gets the last word at last! (And who doubts that Arsene would love to figure out a way to give Thierry Henry an itsy-bitsy injury, one that would be all better by Februay 8…)

Alou Diarra’s year from hell continues. He transferred to Lyon after being an extremely strong player at Lens, only to see his starter position at Lyon usurped by Jeremy Toulalan. And now Alou is injured and out of commission for two months. (That cracking sound you hear? My maternal heart breaking. I hate when these things happen to my guys!)

Sylvain Wiltord is also out, again with a thigh injury. Right thigh this time, after just having recovered from a left thigh injury. (The thighs again!) He probably won’t be back in time for the Argentina game.

I just read a small little line in another article that said Willy Sagnol has been out for a short time with an undefined injury but should be playing again this week. What the heck is up with our defenders! First Gallas, then Thuram, now Sagnol? Not to mention Coupet! Enough, guys! You are hereby officially banned from any more injuries, okay?

Good news about Lilian Thuram, though. (Another one who’s had a tough year with far too much time spent injured and on the bench.) He played for Barca this week and apparently played well, so let’s hope he’s fit and ready for Feb. 7. Go, Lilian!

And Gregory Coupet (another thigh injury!) will probably be better before the game, although he was supposed to play in Lyon’s loss against Bordeaux yesterday but didn’t.

And speaking of Bordeaux, Rio Antonio Mavuba’s douleur inguinale (whatever the heck that is — a hernia maybe?) seems to be all better and he was scheduled to be back playing yesterday against Lyon. (I can’t find anything at the moment that says whether or not he actually was.)

And that’s all the players who are coming to mind at the moment. Two more weeks, guys! Stay healthy! And Allez Les Bleus!!