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France v Spain

   

Tonight’s game in Hanover has all the makings of a classic.

France, not firing in their first two games but coming good beating Togo, up against Spain who’ve been one of the best teams to watch so far.

History suggests the match will be close, they’ve played 27 times before but never in a World Cup. Spain have won 11, France 10 and 6 were draws. Their last game together was in 2001 and Spain won that 2-1.

Form-wise Spain would be the bookies’ favourite. Unbeaten in 25 games and Aragones hasn’t yet lost a match as Spanish coach, but France also have a six game unbeaten streak going and definitely have the motivation to prove the critic’s wrong.

I’m going to predict a 2-1 France win. I think the extra experience their squad has of these high pressure knockout situations will just tip the balance.


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  • Los Angeles

    Congratulations, France. You won!!! Though I support Germany, during today’s game I rooted for France. Why? The Spanish coach made a racist comment towards one of the French players hence Spain did not deserve to win. Vive L’Allemagne.

  • Scorpiio

    No matter what, the Veteran team comes up on top!!!! France all the way…Zinedine Zidane is the Best!!!!!!

  • http://www.pierretristam.com Vive Zidane
  • Andriy.Rybalchenko

    Congratulations to France! They played so great!!! Allez les bleus!! =p

  • shuai

    yeah man!

  • kizee

    hope the refs will let the football decide the winner of this one!!

  • Lurch

    I hope Ribery starts. He creates a lot of scoring opportunities.

  • Tamim

    I hate this kind of reffering. If FIFA do not take any steps, I must not watch any kind of football.

  • Troglodyte

    It’s great to see Zidane play further through this cup, and Ribery is quickly becoming one of my favorite players, but Henry just ruined what WAS going to be the best game of the tournament so far.

  • DON

    Liberté, égalité, Ribery !!!!! Allez les Bleus……BATTEZ LE BRESIL

  • Troglodyte

    Well, Zidane scored. So I’m somewhat mollified. If anyone playing in this tournament deserves to give the World Cup a long kiss goodbye, it’s Z.

  • laure/gallica

    I’m really happy! My country win the match!I heart the people in my town. C’est la débandade dans tout Paris. Les voitures klaxones, les gens sortent et font la fête sur les Champs Elysées!!
    J’espére que le match contre le Brésil sera beau! Et même si on perd, je ferais quand même la fête avec les brésiliens! lol
    Gros gros bisous à l’équipe de France!!! ainsi qu’aux espagnols qui ont trés bien joué…

    The FRANCE is Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité…
    Bisous for you…the people in the world et merci.

  • http://www.angeloabruzzese.com Angelo Abruzzese

    Vive L’Empreur! is heard throughout the streets and boulevards of Paris.

    Now we will bring out the Imperial Guard to fend off the Brazilian juggernaut.

    Allez les Bleus
    Faites Feux aux Cannons

    And don’t forget to bring a few Petards to the match, need some distractions on the screen from time to time.

  • JC

    Good play today, France. Enjoy it while you can. You are but lambs to the slaughter. Brazil shall not fold so easily. ;o)

  • John

    Great finish by France! Too bad they have to play Brazil next, but c’est la vie. I wish I could predict a French victory, but it won’t happen. Brazil 3-1 or 2-0.

    Zidane is a great man! We’ll miss him, even we Americans. :-)

  • shuai

    France – braziou

    The greatest match I could expect as a french supporter!! Too Happy!! It will be a gooooooooood game! Hope to see iiiiiiinio doin’ good movs and Henry to respond!

  • Diego

    Congratulations France!!!!

    France deserved victory in every respect. In the former world cup, when Spain was beaten by Korea unfairly, I was dissapointed.

    But today, France won clearly.
    There is nothing left to say.

    Good luck!!!.

  • Jonathan

    Superbbbbb….extremely happy

    “La belle epoc” is coming back!!!!!!!!

    The defense reminded me of 1998…Sagnol…is having an exellent world cup…Vieira who did not play well in the first game…has been playing a great world cup too…although I believe the man of the match was “Le noveau ZIZOU” Ribery…He is such a great player…you saw him everywhere in the feild….there was once in the game that he trailed the ball from the defense almost all the way to the Spanish side by himself…it almost remided me of that famous Maradona goal….

    But as a team…you couldn’t ask for more…but wait yes..I wanted Titi to score….

    As for Spain..I think they did well too…they have an exellent team…and a good future..if they stick togother…I think Aragones made a mistake in substituing the most emblematic and top scorer of Spain Raul…but they shouldn’t be dissapointed with Spain…If they stick together they should be in the finals for next world cup…

    As for saturday…Yummy it doesn’t get better than beating Brazil…Bring them on…same line up for them…

    Jonathan

  • http://delightfulyank.blogspot.com david

    Allez la France! Les Bleus have won the day, thanks to Ribery and Zidane. That last goal was the nail in the coffin, unbelievable!

  • joe shmo

    remember everyone.
    you heard it here first…

    france will DEFEAT brazil 2-1 as brazil’s defense folds.

    France has a lineup that can truly exploit Brazil’s weaknesses, and Brazil will face a solid defense for the first time in the Cup.

  • Haarf

    Thanks Diego,

    Spain did well too. i think France was very motivated on this one and played much better than before.

    Your team should have a great future ;-)

    Bravo les bleus, superbe spectacle !

  • http://fifaworldcup.sporati.com/?p=155 FIFAworldcup.com – Passionate Fan on Fifa World Cup 2006

    Results (2nd Stage): Spain vs France

    France fans came in legions but celebrated as one after the final whistle sounded.

    Spain enjoyed an early lead at the 28th minute when David Villa scored a spot kick which lasted for 13 minutes.

    After the half both teams’ attacking pla…

  • Zombi

    John, i am not sure you are watching the games critically. Brazil is not playing any better but France is now getting better and better. I know that France will beat Brazil hands down. Spain is a very very good team and the way France out played them shows that France is peaking. I can see France v Germany in the finals.

  • FC

    “France is a bunch of oldies…” Omg, i WANT those oldies for spain, they r stronger, more pacey, have more endurance, etc than our “superb youth team”. Makelele may be 30+ (35 i think) but he seems to be 20 y.o.

    Very disspointed with Spain: we scored through penalty, but couldnt make a single shot in the whole game… We deserved to lose, btw we didnt deserve to score.

    Congratulation to France.
    Vous pouvez battre le Brésil, mais ca va être difficile, parce qu’ eux ils ont de très bon joueurs en attaque (à différence de nous).

  • Pippa

    Enjoyed the game immensely until Thierry Henry got elbowed in the SHOULDER by the charging Spaniard…….which Thierry Henry immediatley dived to check and make sure his HEAD were in tact!!!

    This could be a starting point for Fifa bringing in video evidence. I didn’t doubt Henry was fouled, but to do the oscar winning performance to create a harsher judgement is unforgivable.

    If Fifa took some initiative then maybe this kind of video evidence would deter bogus and exaggerated fouls. The evidence can even be brought up in a tribunal within 48 hours after the incident if they are concerned with speed of the game.

  • http://france.worldcupblog.org Antoine

    Pippa as a soccer player myself i wouldn’t like it to be like American football where they stop the whole gameto review a play for 15 minutes it would ruin the rythem of the whole game so i like Barthez’s idea of having around 8 refs so hopefully, maybe better calls can be made :S so hard to find good reffs these days et Allez les bleus!!!

  • Joanna

    Hi football fans! The Spain-France match was one of the best I’ve ever seen! It was so great! I nearly cried. IT’S SO COOL!FRANCE IS QUALIFIED FOR THE QUARTER FINAL!!!! I don’t know how you feel but I am SO happy!!!

    I hope France will beat Brazil!!! See ya!

  • http://france lokki

    bravo a la talentueuse équipe espagnole n’ayez pas de regret votre équipe vous a offert une avalanche de but au premier tour vous devez être fier des jeunes espagnols malgré cette défaite ce soir (manque de métier?)! bravo a nos bleus en tout cas collective et vaillante AUX ARMES AUX ARMES nous sommes les français et nous allons gagner !!! cocorico

  • John

    France was impressive, especially in the 2nd half. But you have to keep in mind that they dwarfed the Spanish players. Spain fields highly skilled, sprinting types of players. They rely on precision short passes, lots of width in the midfield, and a methodical offense to set up shots. Against a shorter team, this is very effective for Spain. But France is big and that size was just too much for Spain’s ball handling and passing skills to overcome. It was very obvious that once Spain got into the French third, they had no offensive answers. France merely collapsed and used their size advantage to bully Spain out of their rhythm. It was a great strategy by France, executed nearly flawlessly.

    However, it won’t work against Brazil. Brazil is not small like Spain, and they do not rely on methodical, plodding offense. They are bigger of body and are one of the best quick counter-attacking sides ever. I’m not sure France has an answer for that. Against Spain, France had time to get set up on defense in their own third. Brazil rarely gives opponents that opening. I do think France will score on Brazil, because if they have an Achilles Heel, it’s in goal, and France has come alive on offense. But, France is simply too slow on defense against fast counter-attacks. That’s where it will be decided. Brazil 3-1.

  • titie

    I think france is the best team of the world as in 1998. Specially terry Hurry and Ziddan is great all time even if the spanish triked Hunnry on offside system , he do a lot for france.

    I missed Lizzerazu former france defender with number 3. I think he is the best defernder.

    For 2006 I wished france win this world cup once again. I think this team has the potential. The team has all most all as best world players. I wish for France the good luck….
    But I have one think to say for Franch takecare well the brazilian…. then you will win the rest. I know you are a better team than the Brazill national team.

    I like you Zidan and Thierry Henry.

  • Le Pen

    The aging all african colonial
    team representing the very
    soon to be islamic republic
    of france will surely lose
    to Brazil. Of this there
    is surely no doubt.

  • John Watson

    The only reason why france beat brazil, is the same reason the u.s. has so many good atheletes; niggers.

  • http://yahoo.com Sayat Mazmanyan

    I, Sayat MAzmanyan and all the Armenians, congradulate France’s soccer (futbol)team and all the people living there with giving all the support for winning the FIFA World Cup 2006!

  • Eric

    tats a shame.. second time we loose to france, brasil played to bad in this world cup, and only question remains: where are the bests of the world when henry broke down the defense and did goal? its just so bad.. we could loose to anyone else, not france, merde!

  • Eric

    (if its correct to call that thing “defense”)

  • FrenchTokyoGuy

    yes “Defense” is correct (at least in French ;) ) , i think the action Zidane-Henry was simply…”perfect”, the ball just arrive on Henry’s foot while he was rushing to the goal, this is really a Team playing, that is why France is strong and have really good chance of success this year..Bonne chances les bleus(Blancs) !!!! :D

  • ALICE

    IT Seems everyone have forgotten Loul.he isn’t deserved such a defeat on his birthday,but that is fate,something that can’t be changed by human.As a fan of spain, i still want to say to him,”you are a hero to be remembered for ever.

  • Titie

    Nice victory over Brazil. I like it.

    Good Luck for today match.

  • Titie

    Nice victory over Brazil. I like it.

    Good Luck for today match.

    Love you Zizue and Henry.

  • fanny

    les bleus en final!!!!!! je suis si contente et en meme temps si triste de ne pas etre dans mon pays pour celebrer cette victoire avec tout les francais…c’est un sport fantastique et tres important en france qui a le pouvoir de rassembler tout les francais dans toutes les rues de ce superbe pay!!!allez la france allez les bleus refaites nous rever!!!!

  • http://www.pierretristam.com Candide’s Notebooks
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