Henry Out Injured
Thierry Henry won’t play when France meet the Faroe Islands in a couple days, because, according to Barcelona, he has pain in both Achilles tendons.
Henry is still one of France’s best players, but given that he’s likely to be missing more games in the future due to injury at this stage in his career, it would be timely for another attacking player to step forward.
Domenech had been using Henry well recently, as a left forward, the same position he plays for Barcelona, and the position he essentially played for Arsenal. The whole look of the team was starting to come together, something like this:
Anelka
Henry Gourcuff Ribery
Toulalan L.Diarra
Evra Gallas Squillaci Sagna
Mandanda
For Wednesday, Ribery is coming off an injury and probably won’t start, and now Henry’s out. Playing against a relatively modest side in the Faroe Islands, we could probably line up with a simple 4-4-2 and get the victory we need:
Anelka Benzema
Malouda Toulalan L. Diarra Gourcuff
Evra Gallas Squillaci Sagna
Keeper
With our fragile confidence, though, any change seems like a risk. Asking Gourcuff to play wide instead of in the middle could be the talking point after the match, with calls for Domenech to be sacked, and a statement from the FFF that Domenech has their complete confidence, but if Gourcuff is going to be a big player for us, and himself keep in the side, he should be able to adapt to different formations and positions.
It’s ridiculous to have to be so worried about France putting in a decent performance, but that’s what’s it come to.
Anelka – Leading scoring last season in the Premier League winning the Golden Boot in the last match of the season with one of the top ten goals of the season.
Benzema – 30 million pound acquisition of Real Madrid over the summer.
Malouda – Frequent starter and reliable player for Chelsea.
Gourcuff – Player of the season in Ligue 1.
I could go on. League titles won by Toulalan with Lyon. L. Diarra playing for Real Madrid. Ever-present Evra’s trophy haul with Manchester United.
France have players who have never had a call up, Steed Malbranque-types, who might be the Captain for Faroe Islands, yet a couple days ahead of the match, the prospect of missing two of our players with the best track record for putting in decent performances has me fearing the worst.
I really shouldn’t have to be worried. A simple 4-4-2 should work like a charm. The idea of 11 players playing with passion and desire seems a little far-fetched, but if they did, France would stroll to victory. What’s more likely is that a few players will try to coast through the match, which might still be ok, but if there’s no spark at all, I hope Domenech will have the sense to make early substitutions before it gets too far out of hand.
Malouda, Benzema, and possibly Gourcuff are the ones I’m worried about. Gourcuff hasn’t done anything to deserve such doubt, but the pattern for so many players is to have a dip in form after a promising start (see Malouda and Benzema).
An early goal could help France tremendously, and get the players out of the mindset that they sometimes seem to get into, that playing for France is sort of a drag, and get them into the mindset of how much fun it is to score goals.
For the goalkeeper, it looks to me like Mandanda might not be the best choice for the number 1. I like him, and I’d keep him on as a backup, for now, at least, while somebody else, like Hugo Lloris, gets a chance. That said, a lot of our commenters are more knowledgeable on the respective merits of these Ligue 1 keepers than I am.
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 45 comments.
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up the left, cross into the box, cleared away. Up the left, cross into the box, cleared away. Because it’s worked so well the other 500 times they’ve done it in the first half hour.
Posted from
United States




yes dede
Posted from
United States




GIGNAC!!!!!!
Posted from
United States




gignac is the french adriano
Posted from
United States




First goal! I knew he’d do it today!
Posted from
United States




I think we should swap out Gallas for either Squillaci or Mexes. Preferably Squillaci, because he’s so low-drama.
Posted from
United States




How has Benzema been doing in the preseason? Is he worth bringing in second half?
Posted from
United States




Benz has 2 goals and an assist under his preseason belt. Not bad not great
Posted from
United States




I need to see gourcuff score!!….
Posted from
United States




i m from Bangladesh. How i will see this match. I m a die heart France football supporter
Posted from
Bangladesh




Is there any French football website in English Language???
Posted from
Bangladesh




it’s in french
Posted from
United States




Ooh, hell to pay with Bayern. Ribery is on.
Posted from
United States




I’m on a pay site, but you can try some of these:
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=45717&part=sports
Posted from
United States




very physical game.
Posted from
United States




frances loses the ball too much. and they dont have someone who can control the ball well once in or near thebox except gignac
Posted from
United States




also there attacking pattern are nearly the same
Posted from
United States




Wow. We beat the Faroe Islands 1-0. I was clapping for the Faroe Islands. Great effort (defensively) by them.
Anyway, Gignac was a boss from the 30th minute on. Anelka was pretty much useless. Called up 21, used only 12. What was the point in having guys like Abidal (who traveled from California, I think) and Benzema come all the way here for nothing. These two DMs has got to stop. We haven’t scored 1+ goals in over a year. Ugh!
Posted from
United States




I felt like France was just toying with them sometimes, they should have scored at least 3 goals.
Posted from
United States




France won……….But it is shame.. only one goal….If France finished 2nd in this group then it will very tough to France for qualify in WC. Play-of Like Ti-Breaker . Anything could Happen. Romania Serbia Austria 3 big match. i hope France will qualify Automatically otherwise Who knows 90 94 …. will come. Without France WC become boring for me
Posted from
Bangladesh




well, france won 6-0 against them last time and today they squeeked by with a measly 1-0 win.
domenech sure is making huge strides with this team.
Posted from
United States




does anyone have link to the goal
Posted from
United States




This looked like a pre-season MLS intra-squad warm up game. Instead of looking like they were expecting to score, they looked more relieved than anything when Gignac did. Oh well..I’m not getting warm and fuzzies but the season is still young.


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