Sagnol is “Still Hopeful” about Euros. (Does This Break Your Heart or What?)

April 23rd, 2008 | by: Laurie |

First, I want to welcome Inara to the France page. A lot of you probably know Inara as the writer of the wonderful Lyon page over at The Offside. She’s going to be joining Jeff and me in covering the France team as we head into Euros.

Only a month and a half to go, and we’re hoping for lots of news, gossip and shirtless photos.

(Well, that last is probably just Inara and me. I’m guessing Jeff just sighs and averts his eyes and works on actual France team news.)

Latest news on the rightback situation comes from Goal.com, which reports that Willy Sagnol is

still keeping his fingers crossed that he will make into Raymond Domenech’s squad for the European Championships this summer.

Ouch. That breaks my heart. I adore Willy Sagnol. He stabilizes the entire right side of the field when he’s there. He’s the only rightback we have (in my opinion) who can consistently deliver the ball into the box. When I picture Sagnol in my mind, he’s just charged up the right, made an overlapping run, and has his eyes fixed on the person in front of the net that he’s going to deliver the ball to. Has anybody else thought that we might not have struggled so desperately to score if he’d been on the field in the final few months of Euro qualifying?

In the last year, since he’s been injured, we’ve seen several adequate-to-good performances at rightback, but no great ones. At least in my memory. And there have been several times when we’ve either not scored at all or not scored enough, when I’ve thought, “Sagnol crossing the ball into the box could have made a difference here.”

Sagnol was a fixture in the French back four prior to his injury, but Lyon full back Francois Clerc has filled in with aplomb in his absence and could be rewarded with the role this summer in Austria/ Switzerland.

“I thought I could miss the Euros” Sagnol told L’Equipe. “I have not started a single game between the start of April 2007 and February 2008.

“I have been working twice as hard in training since November. I hope it will pay off regarding the end of the season” he added.

However it remains unclear whether French coach Domenech will take a gamble on Sagnol. Apart from Clerc, Arsenal’s Bakary Sagna has also impressed this season and could get the nod ahead of Sagnol.

I cannot imagine Raymond Domenech leaving Sagnol off the squad. I just can’t. I don’t even consider Sagnol one of the “old guys” who could potentially drag the team down, despite the fact that he turned thirty-one last month. In my mind, Willy stays ageless.

What do you think? Am I voting with my emotions and not my head? Do Clerc or Sagna (or even Lassana Diarra) deserve a spot ahead of him? Who should Domenech start at rightback?

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Doumé

Laurie,
I so agree with you. I think in 06 he really did a fantastic job. Not only defensively but also he had such a good thing going with Ribéry on the right side. His long passes and crosses are essential. I’m sure he could take a few long shots too, that would be great. I think Domenech will seriously consider him – I mean if somebody has the work ethics to get back to shape, it’s our guy Willy.
So seem to think the “Sagnolettes”, his female fans! Gee they love him.
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/sagnol/video/xkzyf_willysagnol_sport
sandrahn

Definitely SAGNOL should be France’s first choice RB, no question! How Domenech can contemplate anything else is beyond me.

Behind him, tho, I don’t think Clerc is adequate. Put SAGNA as back-up behind Sagnol! Sagna is outstanding, he’s been flawless this season at Arsenal. And it’s his FIRST year at the club, hell it’s his first year in England!
http://ghana.worldcupblog.org Inara

Sagnol is a St. Etienne guy. Let’s hope Domenech isn’t looking for an excuse to drop him.
Eric

Sagnol needs to be on the squad for the euro. however if for whatever reason he is not i would rather see Clerc there than Sagna. Sagna has played well for arsenal but he has not convinced me that he should play in the euro. Clerc isn’t as fantastic as sagnol but I felt he played the part well.
Eric

Also does anyone else think that Flamini should be added to the squad? I am a big fan of his. I think he could contribute a lot to the team.
Jean-Michel

Seems like everyone on the goal.com site agree with your assesment of Sagnol. If he’s fit he’ll be selected, period. He’s definitely one of ray ray’s favorites with the exception that he actually deserves a spot on the squad. Pick who you want as a back up but he’s the go to guy. The real dilemna is the the left side with Abidal & Evra. Abidal’s lack of confidence and form recently vs. Evra’s solid play with Man U. week in week out. Once again, when in doubt refer back to the Domenech lists of yore in which Abidal has always been his choice. My guess is Abidal.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Eric, I’ve loved what I’ve seen of Flamini this year, but I’m not sure he’s Euro-bound. I’m guessing he’ll be a part of the squad for the WC qualifiers and WC 2010, though.
http://www.wickeddeflection.com/ 433

Bacary Sagna is a solid right back; he can defend as well as Sagnol. Sagnol’s crossing is so good, it’s always going to be tempting to put him in there.

I don’t consider right back anything like a problem spot. Clerc has looked decent there as well.
Brandon

Sagnol is not only one of the most skilled and reliable players on the team, but he’s also one of the most passionate. You can tell that he’s one of the proudest players out there, and that he plays with his heart.

A France Euro 2008 team without Sagnol would be incomplete in my eyes, we need his experience, his attacking ability and his passion.