The coach plays down the draw

I am not convinced that this French team has the collective will to qualify from this group , let alone win the World Cup. I am reminded of the term “FC Hollywood” when the French team plays. You could bring the most glamorous footballers together , but it does not build a team . In this ultra-commercial world , soccer stars are omnipresent and success , inevitably buids egos. The French lack Team spirit and thus will not beat South Korea , who along with the Swiss will qualify for the Last 16 . It might be gut-wrenching to watch the French Team fail miserably (again) , but soccer is a team sport. Somebody wake Coach Domenech before the nightmare turns real.

Posted from  India

Or how about they just get Trezeguet off the fucking bench? Or put Saha in early on. He is the on form striker. The players on the bench funny enough are the most threatening. Domenech is relying too much on star power. Start Dhorasoo; start Trezeguet; start Saha and Malouda. Bench these big headed guys who think they are too big to put in some effort.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I’d like to see Trezeguet and/or Saha start, with whoever does not coming off the bench in the second half. Trezeguet has an amazing scoring record, while Saha is probably a better all-round player and in form.
I’d also like to see Malouda on the left wing. On the right, it is hard to say! Vieira looks out of touch and Ribery is, as of now, perhaps better coming on as a sub?
I’m not very confident in the french team right now, but it is not because I think, as some have suggested, that they are superstars who don’t care. For example, it wasn’t lack of effort that was a problem in the first game. And I hardly think that the incredible success on the club and international level that these players have had does not come without effort! And if one wants to bring up 2002, one should note that Zidane was injured and Henry got suspended with a red card minutes into the second game!
If anything, I think the superstars struggle because they want to do well, try to do too much, which is what contibutes to problems in playing together.
Which is why a good coach is indispensable. Unfortunately, Domenech is hardly up to the task, he’s actually part of the problem!
I could go on about this, but suffice to say he has been unable to communicate with the players and his decisions on the eve of the cup following the injury to Cissé only made it worse, by his adopting a one striker strategy and refusing to call up Anelka. It so happens that both Zidane and Henry have on many ocassions said how they prefer a formation with two strikers, and have also frequently lobbied for Anelka!
So please let’s not speak of his decisions in terms of team spirit! You don’t need players on the sideline who are happy to fit in and be cheer leaders, you need players who are really want to play and can change a game! Great coaches like Wenger ( with Anelka ) know this, as does Ferguson ( with Cantona, Rooney )…
Yikes, this is a long rant! Anyway, notwithstanding my pessimism, here’s hoping the french team can live up to its great potential and go far — Allez les Bleus!

Posted from  United States

Hi there folks….about that match as an F.F.F. fan I suffered…i recognize that France did not play as they were suppose to…but I think a couple of factors were involve rather than just comparing to the team of 2002…1) The fact that they had 3 previous excelent friendly games against 2 great teams (Mexico and Denmark)and 1 not that good (China) playing with Cisse, that was a big change his absence….2) As many people I believe it was a big mistake by Domenench to only put Henry up front, knowing that he likes to fight for his goals a bit back…he is not the ordinary Ronaldo that waits for everybody to place the ball so that he can push and score….so another forward would have helped…3) As a “New Member” of the Ribery-Mania…I consider he should have came from the bench instead of starter…beacause he is a very creative player and so is Zidane…so bringing him in on the second half can give France new options…than having Zidane and Ribery from the start…they have a very similar style…Ribery is an excelent player and I really hope he could fill Zidane’s boots in the future…4) The preassure of the last world cup..may have helped…and 5) Every team has its Nemesis..maybe Switzerland is France’s Nemesis…they have tied twice in the qualifying stage…so there we go..

Other Facts…
The penalty was not given…imagine if France would have scored…maybe their morality would have jumped and a couple of goals would have fall…plus Switzerland would have looked for the equaliser instead of defending most of the time…

Dorasoo and Malouda..should have more play time….excellent playes….

Vieira should have been substituted it was not his day…

the defence rather than the mistake in the first half it was really good…and that was one of my main worries..substituing the ‘98 defense of Blanc, Lizarazu, Desailly and Thuram…was not easy…

Barthez played good….

People lets wait till the rest of the games…it was just the first game…I’m a bit nervous because of South Korea…they are not that bad…plus they are motivated..and perhaps lets not forget they ended up 4th place last world cup…so lets see..

The rest of the teams..I am happy because I was not impressed of how The favriotes Brazil played…their defense is very week…and kaka had to shoot from the outside…becuase they could not build a decent play to score from inside the box..so far Czech Rep., Italy, England, Argentina, Spain and Ivory Coast (eventhough they lost) have caught my eyes…

Allez Zizou…Allez les bleus…!

Posted from  Dominican Republic

First of all I am pretty convinced that the French team is one of the best that there is in Germany. My gut feeling is that the team shall finally explode in a brilliant match later on in the tournament. It is only a question of time.

Probably, with a convincing win next Sunday the team would ease off much of the pressure that they have at the time being. I think Domenech should take off Vieira from the first 11 and introduce Dhorasoo instead in the centre half. Up font there shall be Henry and Trezeguet. Perhaps Silvestre might be introduced in the second half because he is capable to push more on the left wing and throw inviting crosses to Trezeguet for possible tap-ins. Ribery should enter as a substitute to be more effective and so should Malouda.

Posted from  Malta

Sil27 excellent analysis, this team doesn’t suffer so much from the star syndrom, but rather from the enormous pressure that resulted from the 2002 disaster. Let’s hope Domenech has the guts to leave Viera on the bench, I would hate to have his job right now but if he calls the right shots things could turn around pretty dramatically. You can’t say that some of the players don’t want to win, these guys are seasoned competitors addicted to the win. Look at Zidane, thuram and henry why would they give it another shot? they hated what happened in Korea 4 years ago. I say bring some fresh blood like Mahouda, and two strikers at the front, Trezeguet or Saha are an option. Maybe it is the nemesis of the French team, too many options.

Posted from  Thailand

Trezuget start , Wiltord out, im not liking how Viera is playing either is he starting because of his name? Also i say put Ribery in Zidanes place for the 3rd game because he is a creator . Also Govou is quite creative as well. I would also love to see Chimbonda in Abidals place, he is quite amazing.
Use your bench, it isnt talent so much as chemistry. Though I am quite upset . France played better then South Korea today. The 2nd goal should have counted

Posted from  United States

Isn’t Domenech the man of the situation ?

http://franck-ribery-swicki.eurekster.com/Raymond+Domenech/

Posted from  France