Domenech: He’s made his choice

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.

Where are all the Frenchmen?

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.

Where’s Mexés?

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

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

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…!! :/

[...] 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. [...]

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

[...] FRANCE [...]

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.