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Domenech: He’s made his choice

May 14th, 2006 | By: Chriso | 21 Comments »

Well Raymond Domenech has finally picked the 23 he thinks can get the job done in Germany, three keepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six strikers. He’s gone with uncapped Franck Ribery and Pascal Chimbonda but left out experienced players like Micoud, Anelka, Guily and Pires.

That’s the third straight World Cup squad Anelka’s missed and you have to think his chance is gone for good. Guily might be pissed about it as well, he’ll almost certainly be starting for Barcelona in Wednesday’s Champions League Final in Paris.

Some interesting quotes from Domenech. On picking the squad he said, “Nights and nights of doubt and insomnia. This list will not please everybody.” That doesn’t fill me with confidence when the man in charge sounds so undecided. He should be saying its my choice, I’m sure of it and now we’re going to ass in Group G.

He says his main criteria were talent, experience of big competitions and character. I’m not sure the whole squad can tick all these boxes.

Here are the men who’ll win the World Cup for France:

Goalkeepers Barthez, Coupet, Landreau

Defenders Abidal, Boumsong, Chimbonda, Gallas, Silvestre, Sagnol, Thuram, Givet

Midfielders Zidane, Dhorasoo, Diarra, Makelele, Malouda, Vieira

Forwards Henry, Trezeguet, Saha, Wiltord, Cisse, Ribery

Tags: France, French World Cup Squad, Raymond Domenech

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Comments

By QStel | May 14th, 2006 at 3:37 pm

Hmmmm…. The defense looks a bit shakey and I am very very very surprised that Giuly (misspelled in post BTW) was not selected. Still a strong team but certainly not as good as in 1998. My guess is that the tournament will end in the quarter finals for the French.

Posted from France

By Lyle | May 14th, 2006 at 4:49 pm

Where are all the Frenchmen?

Posted from United States

By Cajun Nick | May 14th, 2006 at 5:03 pm

Certainly Guily will be missed. I don’t doubt that Domenech will be hoping that Guily stinks up the pitch Wednesday. Guily will have all the motivation in the world to prove in Paris that he belongs and deserves to be in the World Cup squad.

Having said that, it must be admitted that the French squad has tremendous talent on it. I believe that there are only two things stopping Les Bleus from achieving greatness again: 1) Domenech and 2) an inability to play together.

Posted from United States

By LaShaundra | May 14th, 2006 at 5:12 pm

Where’s Mexés?

What Boumsong is he watching play, because the one I’ve seen isn’t World Cup worthy.

Posted from United States

By Trent | May 14th, 2006 at 6:21 pm

Chris, why do you think Anelka never broke through? I was sorta surprised that he was left out yet again.

By alex | May 14th, 2006 at 8:03 pm

I’m very disappointed that he named Barthez as starter in goal. Coupet has proved time and time again that he deserved the starting spot during the qualifs(Eire anyone?), while Barthez’s recent demonstrations have been less than stellar(Costa Rica, Slovakia). I’m guessing that Domenech made the decision to placate the “old guard” who were close to Fabulous Fab. Here’s hoping he’ll change his mind after the training camp in Tignes. Oh well.
Good on him for choosing Chimbonda and Ribery though…

He’s made his decision and that’s that so “Allez Les Bleus” quand meme…!! :/

Posted from United States

By Angola, France and Holland Name World Cup Squads - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | May 14th, 2006 at 8:40 pm

[...] France’s squad has much more experience than Angola’s, but Raymond Domenech has opted to go with a few less experienced players than one might have thought. Domenech also named Fabien Barthez as his number one keeper, which means Gregory Coupet is probably not feeling so good right about now. [...]

Posted from United States

By princedesparcs | May 14th, 2006 at 10:40 pm

A couple thoughts: No question Coupet deserved the number 1. Pires and/or Giuly could be missed, unless Dhorasoo, imposes his rhythm like, say, Djorkaeff did in 98.

The squad, on more than just paper, is strong. France has got arguably the world’s best pair of strikers in Henry and Trezeguet. Ditto the ball winners, where Viera, if he is on his game, can dictate, much like Deschamps. He scores goals, too. Gallas and Makelele have few peers. Three questions: Sagnol, Thuram and Zidane. If all three can answer affirmatively early on, and if France scores, Les Bleus could go to the semis, or further.

And, by the by, Lyle, they’re all as French as you’re apparently a pinhead.

Posted from United States

By Chriso | May 15th, 2006 at 1:21 am

Trent, I think if Anelka could have stuck with one team and knuckled down and worked hard he’d be at Henry’s level now.

Instead he’s 27 and gone from Paris Saint Germain to Arsenal, Real Madrid,PSG again, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Fenerbache in Turkey.
Too many clubs in too many countries, he’s never going to get a good run of form going.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Jan Roskott | May 15th, 2006 at 4:08 am

My 2cents on anelka? A lot of talent, but also a lot of temperament and too much love of the good life (partying, girls). when he was still very young, his “handlers” talked him into his first major transfer and it kept on going since. He never bonded with teammates, always felt he was above the rules, so to speak.

Posted from Australia

By aliss | May 15th, 2006 at 5:05 am

Soutenez Guily et signez la pétition pour son retour en équipe de france !

http://coupedumonde2006.over-blog.org/article-2724705.html

Posted from France

By mightie | May 15th, 2006 at 6:14 am

the entire team is good but i doubt the goalkeeper barthez(he can be the reason for the failure), coupet proved again that he is the best in france and deserved to be the 1st choice… damn domenech!

Posted from United Arab Emirates

By sil27 | May 15th, 2006 at 6:36 am

I am very surprised and sincerely cannot understand why Domenech has called Boumsong and left out Mexes who had a very good season with Roma and also scored a good number of goals from corners!! For me, though I have great respect to Barthez, I think that at the moment Coupet should be the No.1 keeper of the squad. I tend to agree why Pires has been left out for calling Ribery but the fact that Giuly has been left out does not make any sense at all. He is doing very well now with Barca who is a very strong team. I just cannot devour this decision. I am concluding that Cajun is completely right i.e. there are only two things stopping Les Bleus from achieving greatness again: 1) Domenech and 2) an inability to play together.
We must be very lucky if we make it to July 9!! Still I am optimistic that Saha, Zizou and Henry would be an efficient goal scoring machine… If this is the case, and Zidane would be very detemined to end his career in style, then it might be him again to lift it high up next July

Posted from Malta

By Complete Listing of all World Cup Squads - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | May 15th, 2006 at 9:44 am

[...] FRANCE [...]

Posted from United States

By A Group-by-Group Rundown of World Cup Squads - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | May 15th, 2006 at 9:29 pm

[...] FRANCE Uncapped Franck Ribery and Pascal Chimbonda added to experienced squad. [...]

Posted from United States

By Freestyle | May 16th, 2006 at 11:35 am

A great Squad! 6 attackers!! WOW!! Not sur about Wiltord! Guilly should be in!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Freestyle | May 16th, 2006 at 11:39 am

Wow! 6 strikers!! I’d have Guilly instead of Wiltord!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Mahdi | May 17th, 2006 at 5:08 pm

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the fact the Djibril Cisse is in the team.

Domenech is a garbage coach. I suspect another first round crash by the French.

Posted from United States

By LaBlanc | May 18th, 2006 at 5:59 am

France will not get pass the first round. Raymond Domenech has blundered again. He has not been getting enough sleep. Maybe those who selected him should be blamed or their heads cut off.

Posted from France

By Louie | May 18th, 2006 at 6:07 am

What is needed is a rating system that can give an unbiased and objective idea of who are the best players.

Posted from France

By pinaki de | May 18th, 2006 at 2:53 pm

i think every people also went against aime jacquet in 1998 but he proved them wrong. i think this is a far better squad than that. zidane will give his all in his last world cup. mark my words he will be brilliant! the defence is not bad at all. people may say things about boumsong but he will be determined to prove his worth. he just couldn’t adjust to newcastle. also gallas is very good. the key player will be makelele and vierra. if they are defensively good then this french team will work wonders.

Posted from India