L’Equipe’s Expected Starters for France vs. Morocco

November 15th, 2007 | by: Laurie |

L’Equipe is saying that Jérémy Toulalan may play tomorrow. Oy. Look at this picture from the fff site. Does this look like a healthy player?

In good news, our Barcelona boys have arrived at Clairefontaine and all seem to be healthy and uninjured. Thierry Henry played the match on Tuesday and scored a goal, Eric Abidal played only twenty minutes or so, and Lilian Thuram didn’t play. (Not great for him, but at least he should be rested for our games, right?) Titi and Eric got the day off yesterday, but Lilian participated fully in training.

L’Equipe also lists the following as expected starters:
Landreau – Sagna, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal – Makelele, Toulalan (ou L. Diarra), Ribéry, Ben Arfa (ou Rothen) – Henry, Benzema.

I think I’m comfortable with all of these, but right back and defensive midfield still make me a little nervous

I’ll be posting possibilities for watching the games later today. And this will include the Scotland-Italy game for those of us masochistic enough to want to see a park-the-bus-in-front-of-goal nil-nil draw. (Am I wrong here? I’d be thrilled to be wrong.)

Bob the World Cup Blog editor sent me the following excerpt to prepare me for the game:

In Italy, the number 17 is considered unlucky. Some Alitalia planes have no row 17, some Italian hotels have no room 17 and in Roman numerals XVII is an anagram of VIXI which translates into “I have lived” with the implication “my life is over” or “I am dead”.

Italy play Scotland in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier at Hampden Park on Saturday, 17 November with kick-off at 1700 GMT – for the record, Italy have won four of their 11 matches played on the 17th of a month in the last 30 years. (Various)

So brace yourselves, folks. I don’t think Italy is going to help us out. I believe it will be all up to France on Wednesday.

(Thanks to Inara for the photo link.)

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sandrahn

Bob got that from today’s Independent: http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/european/article3160593.ece

Also, another little item to add about Italy’s chances: historically Italy do have an excellent record against Scotland EXCEPT for the very few times they’ve played in Scotland. I think Italy have played Scotland IN Scotland only once or twice before, and the record isn’t good for Italy.
Laurie

L’Equipe is now listing these as the probable starters against Morocco based on training today:

Landreau – Clerc, Thuram, Gallas, Evra – Makelele, L. Diarra – Govou, Rothen – Nasri – Benzema.

4-2-3-1. Interesting, no?
http://marseille.theoffside.com/ Massaer

Nasri had to play. But I’m genuinely surprised not to see benarfa. This team is nice looking though. But will he reconduct the team against Ukraine.
Laurie

I’m guessing Rothen will play half and Ben Arfa half. But I also expected Ben Arfa to start. And this team excites me too.
http://lyon.theoffside.com Inara

With Diarra, Nasri, Benzema, and with Clerc and Govou, who are little used in the NT, I think Ben Arfa would be too much inexperience and youth, no matter who the adversary is. And Morocco aren’t exactly a walk in the park like say Andorra.

Still, this isn’t the exact lineup, just the most probable based on today’s practice.