What else can I do?

I empathise with Giuly , when he rants on being discarded by Coach Domenech when the squad was being selected for the Coupe de Monde. While Ludovic Giuly was an important component in Barca’s campaign to win the Champions League, he did not start the final against Arsenal . This might suggest that Barcelona had other players for their gameplan. Giuly is a very good forward/winger with pace, skill and an eye for goal. Nevertheless, I think Team France require genuine strikers who can score goals and do so in crunch situations. Frankly, France’s midfield is so competitive that Giuly would have found it tough to fit in. I wish him luck in the future. I will fondly remember his contribution to Monaco’s dream run in the Champions League in 2004.

Posted from  India

I feel worse for Pires, really.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Raheel, Giuly did start in the Champions League Final and he played the whole match.

compare his reaction to zanettis. clearly on a total different category of class…

Posted from  Germany

You’d figure that Giuly would have learned from guys like Grigoris Georgatos, Robert Pires, and Roy Keene that mouthing off about the current coach of the national team won’t exactly help your chances of playing on it!

Giuly’s a cherry-picker who’s never exactly lit a match on fire. Even if he’d kept his mouth shut, he probably wouldn’t have made the final cut.

Posted from  Republic Of Korea

As already expressed my opinion in other comments, the coach could have easily picked Mr. Giuly instead of Cisse. Giuly have been called by Domenech in the qualifying matches and if I am not much mistaken he have scored against Cyprus in the last match. He had a hand in helping France in its struggled qualification so why not calling him to Germany?? Similarly I am equally disappointed that Boumsong have been called and Mexes have been left out. He had a wonderful season with Roma this year. Honestly, I never understood this coach!!

Posted from  Malta

I think Domenech couldn’t make a worse decision. Van Basten also had to make a few tough decisions (leaving Seedorf, Makaay, Davids and young Huntelaar out of the squad) but i get the feeling he knows what he’s doing. And he is justified too, because he left those players out either because of insubordination, bad form or inexperience.

Can we say the same about Domenech? He left out two of the best players France has, Giuly and Pires. And he chose a player that has been disasterous for his team and are desperate to get rid of him (i’m talking about Boumsong here). I don’t know if Giuly said something about Domenech at some point before the selection (could it be a Ferguson/Ruud scenario?) but grown men should be able to sit down and work through these things.

And what about poor Pires? The guy apologised for his criticism of Domenech after Euro 2004, but apparently it was not enough for Domenech. I’m not saying Pires was right to speak out, but at least he was man enough to realise his mistake and apologise.

On one hand i want France to do well because of players like Henry and Zidane, but on the other hand i want to see them fail miserably cause Domenech just has to leave.

I’m a neutral (Cyprus) so maybe i shouldn’t get so upset about thse things, but i just can’t help it. I just hate stupidity in general, but especially in the case of dictatorial managers like Domenech (or even Ferguson, to mention the coach of a team i support, who has got rid of every player who had the nerve to speak out: Beckham, Keane, Stam, RVN).

Speaking of Ferguson, i just don’t understand why the Glaziers tolerate his behaviour. It’s definitely not good for business, that’s for sure. I have a lot of respect for the man for everything that he’s done for the club, but he has clearly lost the plot and he has to go. Even if he wins the Premiership next year (sounds like i’m a dictatorial fool now, doesn’t it? ;)).

Marios,

I hear you on Ferguson. He has a history of getting rid of players (quickly) who speak their mind (Becks, Stam, Keane) or who he did not want in the first place (Bosnich). What he is doing with rvn is just disgraceful. Ruud is quality and much better than Rooney and all the other fowards at United.

On France, Pires should have been in the World Cup squad. If calamity Boumsong could make it, then why not add another midfield in Pires instead of a defender?

Also, I don’t know why Wenger has the policy of 1 year contract for over 30 year olds. Would he do the same to Henry? Pires deserved his 2 year contract with Arsenal.

I too would like to see France do well as they have Henry (the best in the world), Zidane (a true legend) and other great players. I think they will do better than expected.

The Giuly decision was a disaster. No one member of the French squad (apart from “Titi” Henry) has shown a better string of performances than Ludovic Giuly.

His presence will certainly be missed in the France-Mexico “friendly” encounter tonight.

Posted from  Switzerland

I agree Pires should have made the final squad. He has improved on his form towards the end of the season, I will wear my Pires jersey during the games…
Maybe there will be last minute call ups and we will see Pires or Mexxes back in

Posted from  Canada

Whatever happened to Rothen? That guy looked really promising.

Posted from  Switzerland

Akbar, I fully agrre with you!!!! Rothen seemed to be a very promising player especially when I saw him playing for Monaco against Real Madrid in the Champions league of 2 years ago!!!!

Posted from  Malta

Yeah, now you mention it. I remember him now. He was playing out of his skin. Has his skin caugh up to him?

I agree with marios. I would’ve been cheering on France as I have done for years now…but with Domenech I’m hoping for a showing similar to WC2002. Domenech could then be given the consolation job of boot cleaner…though I would’nt trust him doing that either.

This would’ve been Pires’ last World Cup. He deserved to be a part of that squad and could’ve added a lot more than someone like Zidane. Zizou might be the symbol of France but honestly, he can hardly move as we found out over the Arsenal-Madrid games. Pires was lively and nearly scored from 70 yards. France are overly reliant on Zidane and this will be a telling factor in this tournament. If you shut down Zidane the ball will not move forward to the strikers. Its not all that hard to stop a him. A shame really. He should’ve bowed out gracefully.

I’m surprised Domenech was handed this job. It is ridiculous. The team is a mess. The players don’t seem to have faith in the coach. A good performance might get you benched and a poorer one can see you picked. Domenech’s criteria for team selection and omission has been big match experience. Something a Champion’s League final did not provide Robert Pires and Giuly.

I hope Domenech is sacked during rather than after the World Cup is over. I feel gutted because of this theatre loving, superstitious astrologist pretending to be a coach. Jackass!

Posted from  India