‘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.

“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.

we’ve unecessarily put ourselves under pressure now.

and malouda. really. REALLY domenech. wtf?!

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.

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.

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.

i want malouda and anelka and toulalan(no hard feelings) out and nasri, henry, viera in for next match