No time for sentiment

June 17th, 2006 | by: Chriso |

France are in line to equal a dubious World Cup record of going five finals matches without scoring a goal if they don´t hit the net against South Korea tomorrow.

If they want to avoid joining Bolivia on the low scoring charts they´ll have to get a better supply to the likes of Henry and Saha up front.
The talk is that Franck Ribery will be dropped because he didn´t shine in the first game with the Swiss but that Florent Malouda will be back in the team after injury.

Why not play them both, they´re 23 and 26 and France are going to need younger legs against a team like Korea who are always very fit.
If I was Domenech I´d leave Zidane on the bench for this one, start Ribery and Malouda either side of Makelele and Vieira with Henry and Saha up front and try to get the ball to them quickly.

I know its sacreligious to talk of dropping Zidane but France are running out of time for him to find some of the form he had in the past.
He doesn´t have the legs any more so why not use him for the last thirty minutes when he may be able to pull apart a tired defense with a special peiece of skill.

France´s greatest triumph was built around Zidane and it´ll be a shame if the last team he plays on goes down with a whimper because the coach won´t recognise Zizou´s limitations now and use him accordingly.

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Uncle Same

What’s the deal on David Trezeguet? Is he fit to play? Any chance he gets a start? Why is one of the better strikers sitting on the bench?
http://www.sportinformer.com Jonathan

henry is pathetic.the french team lacked direction and the argue too much on the pitch. they had better sharpen up or they would be seeing paris very soon
mike

I agree with your strategy Chriso. Let Zizou come on during the last part of the second half. However I don’t think that will happen.
eric

leave zidane in the starting 11. he played well enough in the last match. But Domenech needs to get Trezguet off the bench, perhaps at Ribery’s expense. I really believe Zidane, Henry and Trezguet can be a successful trio.
eric

leave zidane in the starting 11. he played well enough in the last match. But Domenech needs to get Trezguet off the bench, perhaps at Ribery’s expense. I really believe Zidane, Henry and Trezguet can be a successful trio.
JonC

its a shame…
i saw a lot of arguing and bickering during the France-Switzerland game.
like Jonathan said…they’d better sharpen up, calm down, and not get angry at each other.
Alessandro

Just one thing…

Crush the little Koreans!!!!!!
jujitjohn

Alessandro,

Korea 1: France 1 tie, buddy!
What happened?

What happened to Italia yesterday?

I lost 20,000 grand because Italia lost. Damm it! I thought France was going to win. I lost 30,000 grand because France lost. Damm it!

This is a strange World Cup.
http://tomasrosicky.org Rory W.

France lost because, they got complacent after their EARLY goal, ( some say a bit too early )
and because, France has IMO lost their drive and “imph”

Well Played South Korea, moving on to 4 points , just a draw needed agaisnt the SWISS and you should be fine.

France, be quick and dismiss you coach

My apolpogies, Mr. Henry
winterbear

looks like its 3 and out for france once again. Bye bye froggies.
Vianney

France scored twice during this game (Viera’s scored..but they refused the goal)
With this goal, France would have killed the match)
Anyway, this mistake can not excuse the lack of offenders.
(4 players behing, 2 middle defenders (makelele & viera)…
COme on Domenech, We can not score goals without playing with at least 2 offender (trezegoal – henry + ribery)
Come on, let’s PLAY FOOTBALL, i know we can, ok Demenech?
Nicolas

Viannney…
We’re going to have to really demolish Togo if we’re to guarantee progressing. The loss of Cisse has hurt us
…my picks still are: France, Suisse.
Alessandro

Believe me, Italia and France will qualify…Not as easily as expected but they will.

Sorry u lost money, but Italy was tied, they didn t lose (fortunately, otherwise that would have been a shame) and As for France, their team has a bad spirit, many players are spoiled and the atmosphere around the coach is rather strained. However, even with all that shit going on, France should have won, they were denied a goal, should the goal was accepted the game would have been different. Anyway France deserved the 3points, they led most of the game imposing their gameset and showed off way better skills than the Koreans
http://www.myspace.com/caloy Carlos

Finally! After eight long years, the wait is over, and France shows that it CAN score a World Cup goal once again.

Too bad it was just a draw though.

Now Les Bleus need to show they can win again. Perhaps it’ll be third time lucky with Togo…
CrnoGorac

What I found Hillarious was the way Gallas kicked the ball out of the net after the Koreans scored.

HAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHA
Funniest facial expression and dummy spit of the tournament so far.
http://www.angeloabruzzese.com Angelo Abruzzese

Well Les Blues, where are you?

Ci c’etais le Parc Des Princes a Paris?

Why is France so slow to get on the International Score Board, do we need to bring back Les Grognards?

Go and beat Togo or don’t come back.
tiiiit

This evening we will win because the coach choose Henry, Trezeguet and Ribéry !!

http://franck-ribery-swicki.eurekster.com/france+togo/