World Cup Playoff First Leg: Ireland 0, France 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4fAgZP1yiU …..good goal but it probably would have been save if it hadn’t bounced off Ledger.

Special shot out to Lassana Diarra. Yeah he gave up possession a few times but he still kept it real in the midfield. Showing the Irish that they’re not the only ones that can play physical. I give him props for his tone setting tackles early in the game and solidifying his role as France’s enforcer.

Yeah Jean-Michel, might I add Lassana Diarra has some vert too, dang he can jump high.

I’m still having a hard time getting used to Anelka in this new role. In my mind he should still be doing striker stuff. Yet instead he’s taking over some of Gourcuff’s role and playing on the wing both. Kind of.

Wasn’t it just a year or so ago that he was complaining about how much he hated not being a straight striker? Now I’m wondering if it would even be a good idea for him to go back.

And I still have hope for Gignac. A little seasoning and age to temper that enthusiasm and he will be a force. (Hopefully this will happen before next June.)

No Abidal for the home leg. Thigh injury. He’s flown back to Barcelona so that the club can get the bad news from their own physios. Bummer.

Wow, that’s huge. So which backup CB is currently NOT in Domenech’s doghouse?

Toulalan is out as well I believe.

Uhoh about Abidal. I would love to see Mexes, but unfortunately that won’t happen under Rayray.

I wrote up a piece talking about the mathematical formula for Dom’s effect on the team.
http://frenchleague.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/the-domenech-formula/

If Toulalan is out, Nasri should be called up. There needs to be someone else who can add some creativity to the midfield when Gourcuff isn’t effective.

I have hope for Gourcuff. CB posistion being empty is a scary prospect

I think Toulalan was Domenech’s backup CB. Haha.

To be honest, Trezeguet would have been a perfect callup for that formation yesterday.

I dont know about the defence, but i was thinking in midfield and offense domenech should think of putting Anelka as a CAM, thats basically what he was in the last game and he was very very very effective. And then it would open up a space up front to accommodate Benzema alongside Gignac and Henry.

If you’ve watched Anelka for the last year or so, he likes to drop deep to get the ball. Saturday’s game is no different than most of his premier league fixtures. Even when partnered with Drogba up front, you’ll find him marauding the midfield with Lampard & Deco contributing to the build up. I have been questioning it for awhile but when he won the golden boot last season,I figured whatever works for you bruh. The main difference I noticed on Saturday was that he was more into the game and less nonchalant. It’s rare when you see him tracking back to help the defense or show any sort of emotion throughout a game.

Any details on that bust-up at the end of the game? skysports reported on one of the Irish players “still smarting” over an insulting comment made by LDiarra, which supposedly caused the handbags at the end. I figured Dunn’s pre-match comments got some of the French players fired up and maybe Lass’ comments reflected that.

Interesting sleek new kits, the French players looked very sharp in them.

You guys have already made the same comments I would’ve — very disappointed in Gourcuff. Gignac was frustrating but I agree with Laurie, he needs more time yet to develop his game in the nat’l team. Anelka looked a different animal in his entire attitude and demeanor, like he’d suddenly found his passion for the flag or something. Regardless of all the flaws, it was a remarkable win at a ground that no one else has yet managed to achieve. Imagine, then, what this team could do with a better manager.

Some observations, questions & aimless thoughts:

Gourcuff wasn’t that bad; in fact he made a nice pass to Anelka in the buildup to the goal.

Evra could easily have been awarded a penalty.

I thought Anelka was France’s most creative player (as he was France’s most hardworking against Serbia, if memory serves …)

I don’t know whether to be excited by, or despairing of, Gignac, who had so many opportunities …

L. Diarra is the new Makelele (and they look to be about the same height …)

With such weakness in central defense (and France were very lucky not to coceded at least one goal to the Irish on Saturday), Domenech’s insistence on double defensive mid-fielders is starting to make much more sense to me.

And how does Ribery fit into this side?

Anelka’s ability to drop back more into a play making role is not out of the ordinary for Nico. He is not a traditional center forward, such as a Gignac or Trezegol. Also, the way Ireland was playing dictated that he needed to come deeper to defend but also to get the ball. With Gourcuff not playing up to the level we expect of him it was difficult for the likes of Henry and Anelka to receive the ball high on the pitch. Therefore Nico sliding back deeper was clearly necessary. Interesting that in an interview with L’Equipe he had to justify his “roaming” during the match…to me he and Lloris were the two players of the match for Les Bleus

More of my thoughts – http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/2009/11/france-v-irelandfirst-halffrance-1.html

What’s this, no TVS broadcast on Wednesday !!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t see any viewing options, except a very delayed tape delay on Setanta, on Thursday at 5 pm ….

I agree with Sandrahn about the new kits: very sleek indeed, it almost makes them look like superheroes, which they are of course … well, sort of.

re: Anelka, all good comments. I still am amazed at how in a few years the guy reinvented himself and proved himself to be really team oriented and un-diva-like (Benzema, your turn).
Yes, he was a determinant force in the game, and -sorry it will sound heretic for some- I think it was good coaching. You could neutralize France by stuffing the box and also hampering any effort by the star midfielder of the moment, Platini, Zidane, Ribéry or in this case Gourcuff. By marking him closely, the Irish figured that much less balls would be fed to the forwards. So it was great to create a bypass solution with Nico to bring the game forward through somebody who doesn’t fit in that scheme and that, for a defender, you don’t expect to see there. It wasn’t pretty but it was effective, plus he had room to place a couple of long shots which…opened things up

Doume – I don’t disagree. Because of Domenech having been so frustrating for so long, I sometimes suggest that he’s “stumbled” onto a decent system (the type of comment I realize you don’t always appreciate), but since he brought in Gourcuff, there hasn’t been a time that I remember being overly frustrated with him.

Steven – I tempted to shoot the messenger. I just checked my TV5 schedule, and your story checks out: there’s no mention of footy on Wednesday. Ugh.

It would be hard to avoid seeing the score until 5 p.m. the next day.

Nice to see/read some of you back on the blog …

My deux centimes: It wasn’t perfection, but I’ll take a one-goal win in Dublin, with Gignac, Henry and Gourcuff playing way below what they’re capable of, any day.

Still, all ’round, a solid effort. Anelka worked hard, hounded and harassed, took the shot that mattered and had fun. Lass was mostly super and Lloris came a long way. I’d be surprised if we don’t see that trio at least approach that level, but I’d be speechless if at least two from among Henry, Gourcuff and APG/Benz don’t do better.

My wish for Wednesday: less dependence on the right side and Sagna’s crosses (which were not to this year’s standards at Arsenal), more work down the middle and fewer cute touches.

Anyone catch Gourcuff get into the post-game scrum? He had a crap game by standards, but he was face to face with some Irish mugs afterward. That could bode well for Wednesday. Which brings up keys: Poise and nifty passing. I respect and mostly like the Irish, but the boys in green will have to look to score from more than a set piece. If France play to their ability and fast, they could score more than one. They’re due, n’est ce pas?

Finally, I concur re Dom. He’s settled on personnel and tactics. I don’t see it that different than 97. Really, I don’t. In fact, doesn’t this front four comprise a more offensive set than what Jacquet put together, without the burden of having to qualify? I’m not saying this is a Cup-winning squad, I’m just sayin …

And it’s $20, but Setanta says it’s showing it live. I say take the day off, watch some foot and quaff a few Guinnesses, wherever you’re taking it in. Merde!

Sandrahn, according to the ever-reliable Daily Mail, Diarra went up to Keith Andrews after the game and said, and I quote:

“F*** off, Irish p****. You are out.”

Guess he learned a lot more English at Chelsea than we thought?

(If he had to do something like that, I do wish he’d waited till after the second match. This feels like bad karma.)

If Diarra really did that he sucks!

It might also be possible that Keith Andrews said something to Diarra before or during the game which led Diarra to react like that. I say this because Diarra picked out Keith Andrews to say some words. He didn’t just randomly spoke to a player.

Can you develop this, please?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL-FZLYFGXo

thanks

With Setanta-i, I sometimes don’t quite know what to expect. I cannot miss work to see the match live, but it’s very nearly the same to me to watch on a tape delay of a few hours, and Setanta-i presents an option to “record” the match. I pressed that red button, but I have no idea, rather I’m doubtful, that I’ll be able to watch the match within a couple hours of it ending.

Also, I don’t know if I’m charged $19.99 for hitting the record button.

Laurie, skysports had a quote from Diarra denying he’d said anything insulting about the Irish or about anyone. His version is that the player he went up to (Andrews, I guess) had been winding him up throughout the game and that all he said was “1-0 to France.” He said that Dunn and nother player suddenly came over to him as if he’d said something terrible. He called the Irish players liars. Who knows what happened.

I have nothing against the Irish but I do get tired of the massive British/Irish chip-on-shoulder attitude when it comes to the French — every gesture, every word is twisted into a “smirk” or an insult, comments are mistranslated to mean something insulting. Some idiot journalist at the Times or Telegraph wrote a blatantly francophobic diatribe about the French attitude in Ireland based on nothing at all except his own personal prejudices. Far as I could tell the comments from the French players and Domenech before the match were all very respectful and wary about getting past the Irish to the wc.

Everybody’s jumping on the Anelka bandwagon (including me) …

see here for example:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8364635.stm

… but I’m also reading that he may replace Gignac on Wednesday as lead striker with Govou replacing Anelka on the wing.

I hope Gignac gets the start. Through my prism, and I only watched the match once, I didn’t notice Gignac having an especially off match in the first leg. He put the ball into touch that one time when it looked easier to score, but didn’t he also have the ball in the back of the net, with the goal disallowed for a narrow offside call?

Wasn’t Anelka able to have so much space because Gignac looked like a handful? That was my impression. I’ve read several places that his touch was a bit off, although that hadn’t registered with me, but it hardly seems like a case for being dropped when I thinks he’s been fantastic since breaking into the side.

Having Gignac in there is good for my morale, and I just don’t see dropping him for Govou as a good move, and I’d be surprised to see that happen unless Gignac is injured and there’s also a problem with Benzema.

Yeah, a hustling Gignac seemed to have 2 bodies drapped over him through much of the match, so yeah, I think that’s a good observation about him maybe creating space for Anelka … but he also flubbed what looked to be a sure goal in the second half. He reminds me a little of a certain injurd Danish striker in the Premiership, who’s name, errr, escapes me for the moment …

That stuff I wrote above about Govou starting tomorrow should be filed in the “Reports from Paris” Irish journalist-rumour-category. You’re right, Benzema for Gignac, straight up, might make more sense, though I’m not sure Domenech has much reason to trust him ….

Ha!

Hmm? Bendtner and Gignac?

I think Big Nick does well for Denmark, and if he were in a relatively modest side like Toulouse, he’d probably score a heap of goals, so I can see the comparison.

That said, and I like Big Nick, but I rate Gignac more highly – rightly or wrongly. I might be projecting quality onto him that’s not really there, but I’m convinced the guy’s just a brute.

jeff, I like Nick too but I feel the way you do about Gignac, I expect more from him, tho I can’t put my finger on the reason as to why.

you mean like this Sandrahn?

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/arrogant-french-have-already-booked-their-world-cup-hideaway-1945631.html

lefutur, that report is idiotic. If they really think that France is the only country not yet qualified to have booked a place in S. Africa in advance, they’re clueless. The article is just making hay of this francophobic obsession. Argentina chose their HQ in S. Africa a long time ago, way before they were qualified. So did Mexico, who were only qualified a couple of months ago.

arrogant french. at least we have some arrogance for once, and for a good reason.

Sandrahn, I know its so ridiculous. I’m sure its nuch easier to cancel one of those “hideaways” if the team doesnt qualify than it would be to find a decent place to stay if you wait until you qualify to make a reservation.

A few comments on the Anelka – Henry duo working from midfield during the game:

1) It was not good “coaching”. In fact it wasn’t coaching at all, as Anelka said that he and Henry decided during the game to come down to get the ball. Actually, this shows how little influence Dom has on the team. The senior players decide what to do and the others work around them.

2) In my opinion, it did not open things up that much. The goal was lucky, a half chance at best. It did help France keep possession, which was more important after the goal than before it.

3) It limited Gourcuff’s touches in midfield.

4) It forced Sagna to play as winger and gave Duff a lot more space on the counter.

5) He probably felt he had to do it because Lass and Alou can’t really create chances for others. Unfortunately, when you have nobody up top, there’s nobody to create chances for.

So in my opinion, it didn’t really solve anything. I’ve said this before, but they need more creativity in the center of midfield. They are going to have to be a lot better tomorrow. Lightning doesn’t strike twice.

Gignac was great by the way. He was isolated most of the game and worked his ass off. I hope he starts in Paris if he’s not too tired from the last game.

^^ agree with all of this

I agree completely with Benj. Anelka’s playing deep may have helped in the match in Dublin but it is not the right system. It distorted the team’s shape: it squeezed Gourcuff out and left lots of space on the right for the opponent’s winger. It was only a remedy to compensate for the fact that Lass does not have the passing range out of defense. Something needs to be done there.

I’ve seen a number of you declaring the goal as LUCKY!
So then the glaring miss by Gignac should be labeled as UNLUCKY!
I just don’t get all this criticism of Anelka whom for a change seemed
quite interested and in tuned to the match. You wanted creativity? He did
cause quite the havoc with Henry on the Irish defense during the second
half! Which match were you guys watching? If it wasn’t for his leadership even that Goal that many of you are calling lucky (dismissing all the build up and technical superiority and domination in the second half) then it would have remained a scoreless draw. Which outcome would most prefer?

The Anelka/Gourcuff argument is compelling, esp. given what happened Saturday, but why is Gourcuff more influential and France better able to hold shape when the Breton is paired with marauding Ribery? I just think that was a bad game for him, due at least in part to the Irish. The French need better and quicker touches than they got/had last week. And a resolute Lloris and center back pairing.

Curious, but somehow very cool, that all of it comes down to 90 minutes in Paris. But sn’et pas 4×20-quatorze and I just don’t see this squad losing this game.

I was a bit harsh on our side when I first commented. I remain optimistic about our chances today. Go ahead Domenech, be a bad ass and field the same squad. I support you. Go Team!

I even found a place selling the new France shirts, but they don’t have the long-sleeved version. There are two versions of the shirt: the regular one, for civilians who are probably not, shall we say, match fit, and the TechFit (available in a limited-edition short sleeve for $150USD), for those who are match fit, or have a very positive body image.

I’ve e-mailed my various vendors about availability of the long-sleeved version and they all say the same thing: Not bloody likely.

Now. Who the hell is streaming the match today? I can’t believe that TV5 isn’t going to show it, but they aren’t. I’ve checked ESPN360 as well, and they aren’t, either.