France 3, Albania 0 – It all comes down to the final match

October 8th, 2011 | by: jeff | View Comments

Here’s UEFA.com on France’s Group D:

“Group D: France remain a point ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina following Friday victories, with the pair meeting in Paris to decide the group. Romania have now been eliminated so whoever misses out in the decider will be in the play-offs.”

So it could be worse.

If we get the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, then we can celebrate.

This 3-0 victory, though, was tasty.

Goals from:

Malouda;

Remy; and

Reveillere.

Assists from:

Remy;

Nasri; and

Martin.

The first goal came nice and early, like the 10th minute. It was from their goalkick, and to be honest, it was all Loic Remy.

Remy steals the ball in midfield after a loose goalkick from their keeper after Cabaye shot wide from distance. While we were still watching replays of Cabaye’s shot, they took the goal kick, which was an aimless punt to the mid-line in Remy’s channel. Debuchy heads to Remy, who has to beat his man, and does, and then Remy is flying down the right, justifying his place. His cross was always too far away for the keeper, and Remy had the central defenders beaten all end up.

Remy’s cross came to Malouda, and he dispatched it via a deflection. He wasn’t the only runner in the box, so there was attacking threat, and we were up 1-0.

Then, around the 37th minute, Nasri had a burst of brilliance. He slolemned through five players and laid it off to the in-form Remy to nutmeg the keeper. 2-0.

36:35 Cabaye corner, Evra recovers the ball

36:50 Mvila to Nasri

37:07 Mvila to Nasri again

37:15 Nasri

37:20 still Nasri, and players are being left in his wake. About 5 total, maybe 6.

37:25 Remy scores.

Anthony Reveillere came on for Patrice Evra (46′) and
Marvin Martin for Yohan Cabaye (48′).

Reveillere scored in the 66th minute. Build-up and assist from substitute Martin. Great substitutions by Blanc.

M’vila had another good game. Cabaye looked ok.

Not much of a test for Rami and Kaboul to be honest.

Debuchy got forward. He looked good, and stayed at right back. Reveillere was playing left back when he scored.

Martin looked great when he came on.

Nasri was good – maybe his best game for France.

Gomis looked close to scoring.

Remy was good at right wing.

We were in a 4-4-2, so sometimes Remy went upfront.

That was Reveillere’s first goal for France. Well done to him.

This is the form we need against Bosnia. The first match against them, away, we won 2-0 and it is still our best performance under Blanc. Diaby did really well in that game, but he’s out with a long-term injury. Martin is filling that gap nicely. Nasri as well. What Diaby did really well was pressure high up the pitch. We need the same from Nasri.

Let’s hope Gameiro has a big, big game.