Philippe Mexès Thinks Italy Will Win Euros

January 11th, 2008 | by: Laurie |

So let’s say you’re a high-quality player. You’re trying to make a good impression on a coach who hasn’t recognized your abilities. What do you do?

If you’re Philippe Mexès, you say that the team you’re trying to play for is going to lose to your arch-rivals.

“The 25-year-old thinks that world champions Italy will win Euro 2008.

‘They are going to do the double, like France did in 1998 and 2000,’ he said.”

Smooth, Philippe. Nice vote of confidence. We’re all impressed.

Oh, and he’s pretty sure he’s going to make the team, too.

“I hope I will be called up,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It only depends on me. That is true that Domenech doesn’t speak to me a lot, but he acts like this with everybody. It’s his personality, [Zinedine] Zidane didn’t speak much too.”

And last but not least, he name his expected Domenech’s successors:

When asked about Domenech’s successor, Mexes named Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps as the ideal replacement.

Yikes. The correct answer, Philippe? “Domenech is wonderful and will be in the job forever.” Practice that for when you need it.

Which will probably be after Euros.

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http://senegal.worldcupblog.org Magnusson

Of course he’s gonna court the gazzetta. They love him. Remember the profile they did on him last week?
I think he’s just trying to let everyone know he’s still there. But how can Domenech reallistically go to the Euro without him. He’ll be in the squad and he knows it. You can’t be the best full back in Italy and not be called up.
http://egypt.worldcupblog.org tamim

forza italia!!
terry/FrancoAmericain

I think his a great player but so was cantona and because of his attitude
never really played allot,sorry i am the coach i would not call him,france has many other resourse but please i love thuram but if he plays france will loose
Jean-Michel

I’m sure Trezeguet is thinking the same thing @ “how can I be the best..and not”. Mexes is a clown for saying that regardless of his call up status. Tact is obviously not his main attribute.
glatisant

And here’s what Nasri, and Deschamps, have to say about that:

http://www.dailymotion.com/h24h24/video/x40j5e_nasri-repond-a-fernandez-et-descham_sport
(2:50-5:20)
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Oh, thanks for this, Glatisant. Massaer was talking about this interview over on the Marseille page and I was wishing I could listen to it. Now I’m just waiting for an uninterrupted block of time to concentrate!
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Oh, I didn’t notice you’d put the times in. Very helpful! Now i’ve gotten to hear it.

Simple summary for anybody interested: They say Italy is very competitive, but they don’t agree with Philippe that Italy will win the double. Italy will be difficult to beat, but they believe in the France team.

I did find it very interesting that when Didier was talking about the oldsters who were going to benefit the team, he left out Vieira — Nasri had to bring him up.

Very entertaining video. I like Samir. I hope he’s fully in form for Euros.
glatisant

No prob, I went searching for this after reading Massaer’s post, too, so we should both thank him.
What exactly was Luis saying as he was laughing at Didier around 3:40-4:00 (sigh, someday, I will be fluent)?
Bleaker

Mexes and Treguet belong on the French team. Domenech is a classless clown.The FFF can’t bring Blanc and Deschamps in fast enough – assuming they are candidates. Say what you will, if you excel in Italy – a very tough and talented league – chances are you are good – very good. It’s a joke they are not being considered. Even Frey is absolutely amazing at Fiorentina. I hear Domenech is keeping Trez out because of his astrological numbers? Like I said, he’s a waste – and an insulting one at that. Donadoni has shown great restraint not to be goaded by him. Who cares what the Italian media tries to do? All medias try to shit disturb. He’s waaaayyy to concerned about Italy and quite frankly (I read both Italian and French papers) Italians really, really could care less about this joker. He makes the great French footballing tradition look cheap. Can you tell I’m not impressed? :
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Glatisant, I was going to ask native speakers the same thing! I understood the vast majority of the interview, but I lose it when there’s something else going on (laughter) or there’s interference, like phone static. I also couldn’t hear the answer when they’re asking Samir quick questions and ask him what formation he prefers.
glatisant

I think I get the gist of what he’s saying there (at least until 3:52 or so), but I don’t want make a fool of myself by guessing wrongly…

I lose it when there’s something else going on (laughter) or there’s interference, like phone static
Or accents, or slangs (and the list goes on for me…)
Doumé

Samir: For me Italy don’t have as many weapons as last World Cup
DD: I don’t really agree with Samir
LF: (laughs)
DD: Why are you laughing?
LF: Why are we laughing? because you very well know that they are listening to us, and if you you diss the Italians, it will be in the Gazetta – he is good that Didier!
DD: I’ve had that already for one year when I was there so I know.

It was hard to understand!
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Ah. It all makes sense now. Thanks!
glatisant

Thanks so much for the translation, Doumé! I had some of it right and some of it wrong, so it was nice to be enlightened.
ghayth wasfy zaki

the player philippe mexes is true because he is inteligent and gentle player and i want to send my greetings to him
Rob

Who realy cares about France. They have only won 1 WC & 1 EC recently, so where is the tradiation. As for their club football same goes. And stop bagging Italy all the time people are sick of it. They can not help it if they have a football tradition.