Post-Match Thoughts From Inara

I don’t know about you guys, but I feel very positive after the game against Paraguay. Of course a win would have been better, but as scoreless draws go, this was a good one. Paraguay is a talented team who didn’t come all the way to Toulouse to, well, lose. Domenech picked them because he knew they would be challenging for a team like France. After all, what’s the point of playing an “easy” team who won’t threaten France or expose any of their vulnerabilities?

This game also gave us a chance to see a lot of the substitutes - the entire back four are bench players. While they may not have been 100% reassuring, they didn’t fill me with dread either. In the first half, the defense was pretty solid. In the second half, when only one defensive midfielder was left on the pitch (Diarra), things got a little shaky in the back, and there were some moments when I got nervous. But again, the chances that we’ll see that lineup is almost minuscule, so I’m not going to lose much sleep over it.

Offensively, France have all the tools they need to win the tournament. They were constantly dangerous, and their shots either went just wide or hit the post. It would be nice if the players could be a little bit more composed on the ball, but I think that will come. I’m undecided if I want Anelka or Henry to start alongside Benzema though. But Benzema must start. For me, that is nonnegotiable.

I’m not sure how I felt when France shifted from a 4-4-2 in the first half to a 4-3-1-2 in the second half. While Nasri was wonderful on the pitch, like Laurie, I felt the team was more vulnerable defensively. I’m sure there is a way to work around that problem, but I don’t see Domenech starting Nasri until he figures out how best to incorporate him into the team.

All in all, I’m very satisfied by this game. There were a lot of lessons to be learned, and I know the players will be careful to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Player reviews after the jump.

COUPET: I was worried how he would perform for France after missing half the season because of injury. I’m glad that my concerns were unfounded - he’s returned to his imperial self, and just in time too. He wasn’t threatened that much yesterday, but he looked sharp and mobile.

EVRA: He had a very disappointing game and might have convinced Domenech not to start him over Abidal. Maybe he’s still tired from winning that double with Manchester United, but he was sluggish and out of touch on the pitch. I know that he’s capable of so much more, so I’m going to let his performance slide for now. Let’s hope he shapes up before the game against Columbia.

BOUMSONG: While he didn’t make any glaring mistakes or anything, he looked a bit too unsure for my liking and seemed to hesitate at some moments. Which is not good because a defender should always be confident, or else the other team will walk all over him. But at the same time, he was definitely no chuckle brother. Keep in mind that this might be the only time we see him play - barring injuries, he’s the fourth choice CB (fifth if you could Abidal).

SQUILLACI: Discrete and did his job but otherwise unremarkable. I’d like to see him play one more time before passing judgment, though I know he’s capable of better. He also needs to improve his communication with the players around him - sometimes it seemed like he was on a different page from everyone else. Like Boumsong, he probably won’t play in the tournament, so I’m not too stressed about him.

CLERC: Many people bemoaned his inclusion in the group, but today he showed a glimpse of why Domenech trusts him so much. He’s been improving steadily for France, and each game is always better than his last. Against Paraguay, he was solid defensively and did a good job at shutting down the threat named Roque Santa Cruz. Offensively, he was making beautiful runs up the right and constantly sending in crosses for the strikers. He’s made a good case for starting in the event that Sagnol doesn’t return to form in time for the game against Romania.

TOULALAN: He had a good game, though I’ve seen better from him. Good passing, good tackles, good interceptions. He has the uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time, and experience will only make him better. He really ought to start for France - he’s too good for the bench, and he’s much more reliable than Makelele or Vieira, who have off days more often than not. That being said, he needs to be a little more assertive and has to stop deferring to the senior players. I’d like to see him revert to the dominating and aggressive way he plays for Lyon.

MAKELELE: Old or not, he’s still an invaluable part of France’s midfield. He might not have that much pace, but that doesn’t stop him from getting in the faces of opposition players. He only played for 45 minutes, so it’s hard to tell what his fitness level is like - ideally, he should have played the entire game, but Domenech is obviously sparing him with next week in mind. He’s got a lot on his shoulders, especially with Vieira out, but thankfully, he has one more tournament left in the tank.

RIBERY: Wow, is he amazing or what? And he’s only 25! His guile and speed made him a constant threat, and it’s obvious that the good form he had at Bayern this season was still with him against Paraguay. I was especially pleased with his complicity with Benzema - those two are looking like a fantastic duo. He also linked up well with Clerc. It’s probably too early to tell, but I have a feeling Ribery will turn into France’s most influential player…at least until Benzema catches up. People keep talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but the name Franck Ribery surely deserves a mention in the “Best Winger” category.

MALOUDA: Oh Flo, what happened to you? He hasn’t had the best year, but I had hoped that he’d play better for France than he has for Chelsea. Unfortunately, yesterday he showed us why he’s on the outs in England. Lifeless, unimaginative, nonthreatening…if this is what we’re going to see for the next month, I’d rather he get slapped with a fake injury so Domenech can call up Hatem Ben Arfa.

HENRY: Watching him yesterday, I was hard pressed to believe that this was the guy who broke Platini’s scoring record for France. I used to think he was undroppable, and he still might be, but it’s obvious that age is starting to catch up to him. Of course, he still had a few good moments, and he was able to create some space for himself, but he’s going to have to shape up or he’ll be a waste of space on the pitch.

BENZEMA: Besides Ribery, the brightest spot in the game, and I’m convinced that he should be one of the starting strikers. He was unlucky not to have scored a brace - one of his shots hit the post while another one went inches wide. It’s also nice to see that the confidence that carried him through his amazing season at Lyon is with him for France. Watching him, you wouldn’t think that he’s only played a handful of games as a starter. Besides his quality, I loved his enthusiasm - friendly or not, he wanted to win the game, and during his substitution, he obviously didn’t want to leave the pitch. But Domenech wanted to spare him, and a good thing too - we’ve got a long month ahead of us.

NASRI: He came on as a second half sub, and I personally thought his performance was a good one. The team was tiring (getting bored?) towards the end, so he brought back the attacking impetus. I would have preferred to see him play with Benzema and Ribery because those three would have created magic, but timing wise, it didn’t work out. He’s done enough that I think he’ll be playing in all the games, though probably as a sub. Like I said above, I don’t think this is a good time to tinker with the tried and tested to come up with a new lineup just for Nasri.

GOVOU: I hope all the Govou haters were able to see why Domenech included him. His versatility is always a plus, and he is one of the few players able to come off the bench and not need a lot of time to impact the game. Along with Nasri, I thought he was France’s most dangerous player in the second half, and if it hadn’t been for that damn post, he would have won us the game. EDIT: I apparently was watching a different game, since everyone else (here and in the press) say he had a bad game. Not sure what I saw, so I’m going to watch the second half again and get back to you on Govou.

DIARRA: He didn’t do too badly, but he needs to play with either Makelele or Vieira - playing with Toulalan is just too much inexperience. I also think Diarra needs to work on his passing and make more timely tackles. Though when he blocked that shot off the line, he was my most favorite player ever.

ANELKA: That slip will no doubt stick in his (and our) memory for a long time to come. At least the offside flag made it less embarrassing. I really like Nico, but I wasn’t too thrilled with him yesterday. He just seemed…tired. Like Henry, I know he’s awesome when he’s on form, but when he’s off form, he can be crappy. But to be fair to him, he came on in the second half and had to play alongside the subs, so he might have done better if he had played with the likes of Ribery and Henry.

GOMIS: He didn’t play as well today as he did against Ecuador, but it was only his second ever game for Les Bleus, and once again, he only played in the second half. Still, he looked promising and offers a physical presence (a la Drogba) that our other strikers lack. I have no regrets that Domenech picked him over Cisse.

Agree? Disagree?