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Thoughts on the France-Ukraine Game
Comments(11)Did you hear that? I’m sure you did. It was the happy sigh of somebody who’s just spent an hour and a half watching her team completely dominate a Euro qualifier against one of the top teams in the group.
I finally gave up on Setanta and forked over my $2.95 to JumpTV for a 24-hour, one-game pass. Which means I could watch it again if I had time. And I’m again highly recommending JumpTV. They seem to be carrying all of the Euro qualifiers and friendlies, I’ve had no access problems either time I’ve used them, and the price is reasonable. (To watch live I think it’s $7.95.) And you can choose your commentary language. I enjoy the French commentary — interesting and game-based (as opposed to, y’know, MLS, which has been known to break away from the game for sideline interviews.) When I watch soccer games with French commentary I can pretend I’m fluent in spoken French, because I understand everything. It’s only when I listen to regular broadcasts that I realize that all I’m actually fluent in is French soccer.
But anyhoo. A few thoughts:
–Are we really this good, or did Ukraine just fall apart without Shevchenko? They were tied with us and Scotland at the top of the table, but our boys completely blew them apart. Please, please tell me we’re really this good.
– Given the history between this ref and the team about the whole headbutt thing, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the calls. He called what needed to be called and ignored everything else, especially the blatant Ukrainian dives. (The one right before the half was particularly egregious. And what about the guy who claimed Nasri elbowed him in the face, when the replays showed that our sweet Samir was too short to even reach his freakin’ face!! Not that I’m, y’know, mother-bear protective of Samir or anything.)
– Speaking of Samir Nasri, yes, yes, yes!! He and Nicolas Anelka, with Franck Ribéry and Florent Malouda on the wings, create an explosive offensive combination!! It’s almost as if the team had been a puzzle with a missing piece before he came on the scene, and Samir is that piece. I’m wondering if he could do the same with Henry?
– Djibril Cissé didn’t get much chance to show his stuff. He played for fifteen-ish minutes, but Lassana Diarra subbed in for Nasri right after, so he was more or less alone up top. I wonder if he’ll start on Wednesday.
– Damn, Anelka’s good! And Ribéry also did an excellent job of being where he needed to be.
– François Clerc wasn’t really visible. He’s not bad, but he’s not Willy Sagnol. I’d really like to see the team develop some more depth at right back, especially now that Sagnol’s turned thirty.
Also, as Inara’s reported, Grégory Coupet is “injured” for Wednesday’s game. Of course he is. Tell me you didn’t see that one coming a mile away when you saw three keepers called up. It’s post-Scotland déjà vu all over again.
All in all, a truly awesome game. This team is feeling more and more like the real thing.
It’s so funny — I wasn’t nervous during first half because I knew how it ended. There’s no way to re-create that tension once you know the result. At one point I was looking at the tense faces in the crowd first half and remember thinking, “Oh, right. They don’t realize yet that they’ll win.” But France created far more opportunities during the game than Ukraine did, and that’s fun to watch.
And yes, they absolutely do have set piece issues. But to be fair, don’t most teams to some extent? Seriously, is there any team you follow where you sit back during a corner kick and think, “Oh, I’m not worried here”? France isn’t better than average, but I’m not sure they’re worse, either. (But you can ask me again after Wednesday. Or after the next time they face a team with a Beckham or a Juninho on it.) 
Posted from 
United States
I was just wondering, does anyone know which players on team france were actually born in france?
Posted from 
Canada
Skillz, almost all of them, actually. It’s a myth that France goes out to other countries to recruit for the National team. And even those who weren’t actually born there moved to France at a young age.
Going by memory, of those who played in Saturday’s game, the following were born in France: Coupet, Abidal, Gallas, Clerc, Toulalan, Ribery, Nasri, Lassana Diarra, Anelka, Cisse. Of the others, I think Thuram moved to France at 9 and Malouda is from the French territory French Guiana, which is considered part of France. So he technically should be considered “born in France” as well. Makelele was born in Zaire (now Dem. Repub. of Congo) and moved to France when he was four.
Is that French enough for you?
Posted from United States
Wow, I just read an article that answers my question. Damn if it werent for france than I think African teams would actually have a chance at next world cup. Why dont they just complete their squad and recruit Drogba to play for france.
Posted from Canada
I was so happy with the game. So proud.
They played like a team!!! A team with a purpose!
I think Malouda and Ribery could have been a bit more efficient at the wings, though one provided an assist while the other scored a goal.
Nasri was great but still has a lot to learn. Not Zizou but his own man.
Thrilled to see Toulalan reverting to his 2006 form. He did great in midfield. The Lele-Lala partnership made sure we didn’t miss Vieira.
Don’t know what France’s problem is with set pieces (like Arsenal). I think in this one respect, Squillaci is better than Thuram, Gallas, and Mexes – he’s great with jumping up and heading the ball away before everyone else.
Clerc did alright. It’ll take a while before he’s ready to fill in Sagnol’s shoes, but good thing Sagnol will be around for a few more years, which will give Clerc time to get used to playing at a higher level.
(FYI, I think Reveillere is better defensively than Clerc, so I don’t get why Domenech picks Lyon’s sub at RB instead of the starter).
Posted from United States
What the hell is this obsession with the national identity of France’s players? Why does this BOTHER people? Why is this such an issue? People who keep bringing this up should know that by denying the French nationality of France’s squad, they are in total agreement with the rightwing racist nazi National Front and its leader Jean Marie Le Pen — this repulsive element in France despise the national squad for its racial makeup and do not consider the team authentically French. Very nice company to keep.
Almost all of the French squad were born in France. The few who were not emigrated to France at a very young age (mostly toddlers) and were RAISED in France. Vieira may have been born in Senegal but his primary life experience has been in FRANCE.
Their primary language is French, it is FRANCE where they were educated, it is FRANCE that trained them. They are authentic Frenchmen.
Anyway, YES, fantastic game! Anelka and Ribery goals, just brilliant! And Laurie, I do think that this France team are this good, despite Domench’s questionable choices. For me, it was made all the sweeter when during the same weekend the supposedly brilliant world cup winners won against the Faroe Islands by–wait for it–2-1!! Couldn’t help but laugh out loud at that. Georgia, Ukraine and France all win against FI by 5 or 6 goals and Italy can barely scrape a 1 goal lead.
And yes, France has the Arsenal disease — as do Brazil sometimes: they create a bazillion chances quite brilliantly but have a very hard time getting the ball in the back of the net. All 3 teams also have the same serious weakness with set pieces. If you saw the Brazil-England friendly last week, it was the same scenario with Brazil.
And as we suffering gooners can attest this past season (which THANK GOD is finished!), it’s the story of Arsenal.
Teams like France, Arsenal and Brazil rely on actually playing the ball, on passing, creating chances on the ground — much less on longballs and set pieces. The problem comes of course when they play against the aggressive, uncreative stoppers — teams like Scotland and Chelsea who create very few chances, rely almost entirely on longballs and set pieces and tactical fouling. They don’t go out to PLAY football. They go out on the pitch to prevent the opposing team to play football. France, Brazil, Argentina, Arsenal, Barca all go out to PLAY football.
I (along with many gooners) am absolutely terrified of the prospect of Anelka going over to Man United. Many gooners wish Wenger would just bite the bullet and try to get Anelka to come back, he’s changed, he’s no longer “the sulk.” He’s no longer under the negative influence of his brother.
Tho whether or not he and Henry could work together is a good question. PLEASE Nick, stay at Bolton or some other Prem club or leave the Prem for La Liga or Serie A. Just don’t go to ManU or Chelsea!
Posted from United States
skillz, by your logic, donovan bailey is not canadian and michael jordan is not american because their both black. your comments seem to be racially inspired more than anything else.
Well I’ve lived in the south of France and if French society could be more like French Football then everybody in France would be treated better and not just treated well because they help them win at sports. Plus anyone who isnt a Native Indian isnt really Canadian. White, Black or anything in between. Except Red. Dont worry, I think white people are the worst of them all.
Anyways, I thought France played well but Ukraine were missing 3 of there top stars. And they’ll have to play them again next time in Ukraine.
Posted from Canada
“Well I’ve lived in the south of France and if French society could be more like French Football then everybody in France would be treated better and not just treated well because they help them win at sports.”
This is one thing we can agree on. I’m really hoping Thuram goes into politics!!
Posted from United States
Patrick, I watched a good part of this game again when it played on Setanta before the Georgia game, and I paid special attention to set pieces. ACK!! Unmarked player after unmarked player!! How did I not notice that the first time? I must have been lulled into a false sense of security by the knowledge that we won.
Italy will not let these kinds of opportunites go by. I’m a little nervous.
Posted from United States
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While I thought France played extremely well in the second half, I was really nervous during the first half. Why is France so bad on defending set pieces? They let in a goal in the World Cup against Italy and in the Euro qualifier against Italy and in the qualifier vs. Scotland. What’s going on?
Posted from
United States