Pre-World Cup games

It looks like the favoured nations to win the World Cup are taking different routes where warmup games are concerned. France have lined up four games in twelve days prior to the World Cup against Mexico, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, and the last against China on June 7.

According to the FIFA website, Brazil have only scheduled one game against New Zealand to get themselves in the groove, while Argentina are going into the competition cold with no friendly matches planned. This contrasts with their main group rivals, Holland who have three games in nine days.

Germany will play three warmup matches, England two and Italy one, so it seems Raymond Domenech is on his own in wanting a full schedule so near the start of the World Cup. Obviously the proof will be in the pudding. Either France will be finely tuned and come racing out of the blocks in their group games or they could come unstuck if players pick up little injuries before they play the real games.

Personally I’d play it safe and have one or two matches to get the team in the mood but no more especially with a team that’s relying on a lot of older legs.