Romania 0, France 0 – Les Bleus come out flat

June 9th, 2008 | by: jeff |

France blogger Laurie said after the match that, “France usually plays pretty while being unable to score. This was 90 minutes of ugly.”

That’s quite a good synopsis.

I’ll add some of my post-game thoughts, most of which appeared a bit earlier on WickedDeflection.com.

I thought that Malouda, Anelka, and even Benzema had subpar performances; par being the international quality you’d expect to see from players in a top side in a major tournament. To continue the already-strained golf analogy, I’d put the other players on even par. Unfortunately, no one hit 10 under.

Neither Thierry Henry nor Patrick Vieira were fit to face Romania, so Nicolas Anelka and Jeremy Toulalan started. France generated very little going forward. Anelka headed one over. Benzema hit one or two right at the keeper. Gomis, when he came on, could hardly get a touch.

There was a short spell at the start of the second half when France looked ok, but for most of the game, they didn’t look like they deserved any more than a point against Romania.

Claude Makalele looked like France’s best player in the first half, but faded in the second half, as Toulalan saw more of the ball.

Malouda saw a lot of the ball in the first half, but did little with it.

Ribery was France’s best player in the second half, and probably the best player over the 90 minutes.

Coupet, Thuram, and Gallas had very little to do. The full backs Sagnol and Abidal were more involved, and did fairly well.

France Supporters would like to see more production out of left midfield, especially considering how much Malouda saw of the ball. That said, he had a good spell in the beginning of the second half when France looked most likely to score, but he’d still lead the list of players that France Supporters would like to see make way for other options, followed by Anelka.

Benzema’s subpar was just a matter of a missed put, really – he had some great touches and looked dangerous at times, but didn’t get involved as much as France Supporters would have liked, and when he did have a good chance, he hit it straight at the keeper, but he’s certainly not a player France Supporters want to see on the bench.

In addition to Gomis, France’s other substitution was Nasri, who wasn’t able to make a big impact when he came on.

As a spectacle, the game was poor. France’s performance overall was poor. Curious then, that I found the match so gripping, but that’s high-stakes international football.

No cause for panic and dismay, yet; France just need to get a little more push forward. It was almost a relief when the full-time whistle blew, because there wasn’t much between the sides down the stretch. With both teams winning corners, I had visions of France letting one in.

Those are just one person’s views. The alleged opinions of “France Supporters” are actually just my opinions, coupled with the assumption that another France Supporter somewhere in the world might agree with me – kind of a running gag, though not at all funny. Don’t be shy to tell me how very wrong you think I am if you think I’m very wrong. Comments are open.

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Pride of Lyon

I’m not sure I want to get up at 1 in the morning to watch France play next time…

Although it has always been France problem, when we play “smaller” teams (if you can call Romania a smaller team), we play crap, while when we play good teams, we plays very good football.
So I am expecting a better performance against the Netherlands.
Anyway, the big game will be against Italy, the winner of this game will probably go through. I don’t see romania beat Italy of Netherlands with what they showed today.
Foreverzidane

I agree with most of your observations however I truly believe that Toulalan lacks imagination and not a good shooter at all. Anelka did have chances that Thiery would have made more of them. Benzema was quite atrocious and just didn’t want to get that frail body involved in anything risking an injury and a FAT paycheck for his club side.
I am sure that Domenech will make the necessary adjustments and this team which was very painful to watch offensively will shine in the remainder of their matches. I am sure of it! Goivu in for malouda, Evra in for Abidal and Flamini in for Toulalan. I like Domenech but like Donadoni his gamble of playing his old favorites might not have been the best choice!
JustJack

I was having Chelsea flashbacks to earlier in the BPL season. WSD/FFF Steven Cohen’s voice bellowing “snOOzer” except that I was riveted, desperately wanting the goal that never came.
http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/ BeanTownFrog

We should not be too hard on Toulalan for his “lack of shooting” he is a great defensive/holding midfielder much more in the mold of Makelele than Vieira. So no surprise the offense was not as solid as it can and should be. Abidal played a solid left back so not sure you will see Evra come in that slot. Might we see Gouvou….yes he is Domenech’s binky. I see France going to a 4-2-3-1 system. Same back 4, Makelele and Vieira (toulalan if Pat cannot go) as holding midfield, with Malouda, Nasri, Ribery supporting henry or Anelka. This would give more muscle and creativity in the midfield, allow Ribery to roam, he can interchange with Nasri center/right. And Malouda could always drop deeper take some defensive pressures off the holding pair (Malouda did play left back for Lyon on occasion) With Vieira there would be more of a link between offense and defense as well. I think the will need more bulk in the midfield to counter the italian lock.
Benjamin

for some reason im getting the feeling
that domdom will have the crazy idea of going
4-3-3, idk why.
he will use make, viera, toulalan in midfield to block all possible dutch attaks
and then leave ribery, benzema, and henry all the space and fluidity to score.
idk if this would actually work tho…is it a possibility?
he wont go back to 4231 cuz ther isnt a certain zizou in the team anymore

i want malouda and anelka and toulalan(no hard feelings) out and nasri, henry, viera in for next match
http://ghana.worldcupblog.org Inara

At least Toulalan attempted a shot on goal. Besides Anelka, Benzema, and Malouda, no one else even tried.

Evra and Flamini wouldn’t have been improvements because their instructions would have been the same, which would be to stay back, patrol the back four, and not move too far up the pitch so as not to be caught out of position if Romania manage a quick counter.
Thomas

I can think of at least one time we’ve gone 4-2-3-1 since Zizou and that was the 3-1 win over Italy in Paris at the start of qualifying. Ribery fell into Zidane’s place and did very well there. It could be an even more dangerous attack with Nasri starting on the right and switching with Ribery when needed.
parisian indio

I saw some commentators on a show where Domenech’s fiancée is hosting the show. One of them got it right: Les bleus only want to play defense.

Lilian Thuram held the ball hostage. He kept the pace like that. He always kept the ball towards the side, majority of them on the INEFFECTIVE Malouda and away from the well-guarded Ribery. The analysts were so mad at Malouda they wanted him kicked out of the team. But for me, it was Abidal. What has happened to this guy? Ever since playing for Barcelona, he lost his speed. He can’t even kick a cross. He’s happy with short passes, no risks.

As for the attacking duo, it seemed like nobody trusted them… Even Domenech’s fiancée said Les bleus played miserably… In an interview, Sagnol blamed it on training high on the mountains. And eating a lot of rice.

Domenech said after that every game is an elimination. Now they have no choice but to win against the Dutch, and the Italians.
Darshan Shah

I missed the france match last night but saw the Italian one…it was totally worth being up till 2 at night to see them lose…what a match…but I’m a bit concerned about our chances of going thru…Netherlands look almost set…I don’t see them losing to Romania (or even draw for that matter) I think France v/s Italy will be the decider…also I haven’t followed the selection closely but can someone please explain to me why David Trezeguet and Cisse are missing from this team? I think the formation 4-4-2 works best for us but we need someone much better than anelka up there…we need finishers…I hope someone steps up to do the job…
jeff

Darshan Shah –

Trezeguet, although a great goal scorer in Italy’s Serie A, hasn’t played very well for France for several years, and was often France’s least effective player by a wide margin, rarely getting involved at all – waiting for a tap-in opportunity that never came. He’s been replaced by Anelka who is more mobile and can help with the build-up play.

Cisse lost out to Gomis who scored a double in his debut in a Euro 2008 warmup friendly. Cisse and Gomis both scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 this season.
http://lesbleusfrancefoot.wordpress.com/ jean pierre

i agree, no cause for panic yet. but we really, really, have to learn how to play these smaller teams. its beyond a joke now. are holland and italy going to give romania such an easy ride?

we’ve unecessarily put ourselves under pressure now.

and malouda. really. REALLY domenech. wtf?!
sandrahn

Good comments, all.

“Although it has always been France problem, when we play ’smaller’ teams (if you can call Romania a smaller team), we play crap, while when we play good teams, we plays very good football.”

All Arsenal supporters know this syndrome very very well. Which is why I expected a 0-0 draw v. Romania, knowing that they’re all defense defense defense. I was just hoping that I’d be surprised and somehow, somewhere, someone in this France team would conjure up a goal, or at least that they’d get a dodgy penalty like Croatia did v. the hapless Austrians.

Teams like France and Arsenal (and Barca last season) get into these phases where they just can’t break down super-defensive, thoroughly unimaginative teams like Romania. They’re tougher to deal with than a better team like Italy. (Sorry to Romania fans but having seen your team play some games in the qualifying rounds, there’s no creativity or risk-taking in your team at all). Yesterday’s game was just like France v. Scotland, with Domenech persisting in trying the same damned thing until very late in the game, when it was too late. At least no Romanian player was able to summon a sudden burst of brilliance and score a wonder goal (or even a crap goal). In a way it’s good that France got Romania out of the way before Holland and Italy. France do have a good record against both of them, after all, and they certainly can play football.

“We should not be too hard on Toulalan for his ‘lack of shooting’ he is a great defensive/holding midfielder much more in the mold of Makelele than Vieira.”

Exactly, I don’t know why people expect him to suddenly provide any attacking momentum, it’s simply not his game. Blame Domenech for packing the midfield with DMs not known for any attacking play. Tho as Inara pointed out at least he did attempt a shot on goal. Would you expect Makelele to proving any attacking threat?

“I see France going to a 4-2-3-1 system”

Well I certainly hope so because eventually that was the system that got them to the final in Germany 2 years ago. It’s what Domenech has to do if he wants to go far in this competition. But Domenech needs to replace zizou’s crucial role in that formation and, among these players, the only one who can do that is Ribery. He simply can’t be injured in this tournament.
Jean-Michel

Lol@ the expression “Domenech’s binky” BeanTownFrog. I needed that after yesterday’s BS performance. Everyone is right on with the match critique. Inara, I just wanted to point out that Abidal also took a shot somewhat on target. Which stunned even Tommy Smyth in the booth when he said “You know things are bad when your left back is taking shots on goal”.
skillz

’smaller’ teams ,

‘dodgy penalty like Croatia did v. the hapless Austrians.’

‘thoroughly unimaginative teams like Romania.

‘no Romanian player was able to summon a sudden burst of brilliance’

Can someone please regulate these kind of ignorant, racist comments!! Euro cup is supposed to be about positivity, come on people.