France’s Next Euro Qualifier on Friday

May 27th, 2011 | by: jeff | View Comments

With France’s next Euro Qualifier a week from today, let’s a take a look at where things stand:

France’s Upcoming Matches
Friday, June 3, 2011 – Qualifier 6 of 10 – Away to Belarus
Monday, June 6, 2011 – A friendly away to Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine
Thursday, June 9, 2011 – A friendly away to Euro 2012 co-host Poland

Euro Qualifying Group D Standings
France – 12 points from 5 matches
Belarus – 8 points from 5 matches
Albania – 8 points from 5 matches
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 7 points from 4 matches
Romania – 5 points from 5 matches
Luxembourg – 1 point from 6 matches

Here are the players called up to face Belarus, who defeated France 1-0 in Paris in September. That was a low point (one of several) – Laurent Blanc’s first competitive match in charge, and a continuation of the pitiful form we had endured under Domenech. Since then it has been four consecutive 2-0 victories in Euro qualifiers, and victories in friendlies against England and Brazil.

Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Adil Rami (Lille/Valencia)
Mamadou Sakho (Paris-SG)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Anthony Réveillère (Lyon)
Younes Kaboul (Tottenham)

Midfielders
Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
Blaise Matuidi (Saint-Etienne)
Yohan Cabaye (Lille)
Yann M’Vila (Rennes)
Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
Marvin Martin (Sochaux)

Wingers
Jérémy Menez (AS Rome)
Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)

Forwards
Kevin Gameiro (Lorient)
Guillaume Hoarau (Paris-SG)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Loïc Rémy (Marseille)

That’s a total of 26 players called up – a bigger squad than usual because of the two friendlies after the qualifier.

The qualifier is the juicy one, though. Phillipe Mexes, who has been an ever-present under Blanc, and has been doing very well, is out injured. That leaves an opportunity in central defense to line-up alongside Adil Rami. Rami is a player about whom I need to dedicate a post in the near future. Along with Mexes, he has formed a strong defense for France, his club team Lille just won a domestic double, and he’s on his way to Spain to play for Valencia. And if that weren’t enough, I sense that he’s fast becoming a fashion icon. He is definitely one to watch. He had injured himself near the end of France’s 0-0 friendly with Croatia, trying a bicycle kick, I think it was, but he’s clearly recovered and was key to Lille’s league-title run in. PSG’s Sakho, I’m guessing, will get a start in central defense. Laurent Koscielny, who I think is good enough to play for France and do well, is out injured. It should be a big chance for Sakho, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.

Left back is another spot to watch. Abidal had become Blanc’s first choice in that position before he had surgery. He has recovered quickly and has been called up. Evra was selected at left back in the previous qualifier while Abidal was out. Evra will be lining up for Manchester United in the Champions League final tomorrow night. Abidal, I’m guessing, will not be starting for Barcelona. It would be quite a story if he did. I suspect that Evra will get one last match under his belt, against Belarus, before taking his summer break. Clichy, who actually has more starts at left back under Blanc that Abidal or Evra, I think, has not even been called up. His prospects are in decline.

Update: Abidal did get the start in the Champions League Final, which represents an incredible recovery. What will Blanc do?

Gourcuff is out injured. He had pretty much forced his way into Blanc’s first 11, in a fairly deep-lying central midfield position, despite frequent reports of his poor club form for Lyon, by scoring goals for France. M’Vila has been Blanc’s favorite central midfielder, as well as mine. Hopefully he will be starting against Belarus. Matthew Spiro, the Ligue 1 commentator who I like, wrote in his blog that M’Vila has had an “alarming dip in form in the second half of the season.” That doesn’t sound good, but I have already written here that M’Vila seems to play better for France than he does for Rennes. He has the enthusiasm and energy that some players have when they first get their chance. Benzema used to have it, then he looked completely unmotivated, and now he’s good again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see M’Vila go through a similar cycle, but it would be nice if he could avoid a dip in form for France.

Assuming M’Vila keeps his place, then who takes Gourcuff’s spot? If the choice is Alou Diarra, many supporters will be disappointed with the perception that Blanc is being too defensive. Marvin Martin has received his first call up, but I wouldn’t expect him to immediately storm into the first 11 for a qualifier. That leaves Matuidi, Cabaye, and Diaby from the list of midfielders, and Nasri could potentially be thrown into that group as well. Blanc likes Diaby, but his club form has not been good, which leaves hope for both Matuidi and Cabaye, both of whom look like decent players at the very least. I think that Matuidi has looked promising when he’s been give a chance in the national team, and Cabaye is the player with the recent trophy haul for his club. I’m guessing, however, that Diaby will get a game.

The four attackers will probably be Menez, Nasri, Ribery and Benzema. That’s certainly who I’m hoping they’ll be.

Predicted first 11
Benzema
Ribery Nasri Menez
M’Vila Diaby
Evra Sakho Rami Sagna
Lloris

The friendlies will be fun for a chance to see Marvin Martin (not to be confused with Marvin Martian) and others: Abidal, Valbuena, Matuidi, Gameiro, Cabaye.

Three points and a good performance are needed against Belarus. We need a morale boost. A couple scorching performances in the friendlies would help too. We need some goals. We need a new player, like Gameiro, to take his chance. We need the defense to carry on without Mexes. We need to enjoy our football.

Allez Les Bleus. Come on you Blues.