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Call Ups for France vs. Ireland

November 6th, 2009 | By: Inara | 31 Comments »

France’s do-or-die match against Ireland is just around the corner, with the first match taking place on November 14th in Ireland and the second taking place on the 18th at the Stade de France (boo…). I don’t know about you guys, but I’ll be praying extra hard that France don’t screw up against a tough Irish team. Or else Raymond & Friends will be watching the World Cup just like the rest of us – from their living room couches.

Unsurprisingly, there aren’t any big surprises in the squad. Aly “The Teeth” Cissokho gets his first call-up, but it was somewhat expected in light of Gaël Clichy’s injury. Loïc Remy gets the nod in favor of Bafetimbi Gomis, but again, that’s not really surprising because Les Bleus are currently short on wide players. Yoann Gourcuff and Sidney Govou return after missing out on the last qualifiers due to injury.

More notable are the absences. The biggest one is Patrick Vieira, who hasn’t been playing regularly at his club and has also been struggling on and off with injuries. Though his recent performances were positive, Domenech didn’t think it was enough to justify his inclusion in the squad (Vieira is not happy about that, btw). Franck Ribery is still out due to a knee injury, and despite Samir Nasri recently making his comeback for Arsenal after a long injury layoff, he was left out as well.

Totally unrelated, but here is an interesting fact I discovered the other day: Sidney Govou has scored 10 goals for France in 42 appearances. Compare that to Nicolas Anelka, who’s scored 13 goals in 61 appearances. Three less goals with 20 less appearances – and I’m sure Anelka has had more starts as well. It’s weird to think about Govou in a productive light, isn’t it?

Full list after the jump.

Gardiens de But
Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Stève Mandanda (Marseille)

Défenseurs
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
Julien Escude (Sevilla)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Rod Fanni (Rennes)
William Gallas (Arsenal)
Bakary Sagna (Arsenal)
Sébastien Squillaci (Sevilla)

Milieux de terrain
Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid)
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon)

Attaquants
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
Sidney Govou (Lyon)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
Loïc Remy (Nice)

Tags: Patrick Vieira, Player News, World Cup 2010

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 31 comments.

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By Jean-François | November 6th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

Cissokho is very talented, but I still believe that Domenech is being very ignorant (as usual). Trying out new players is good….but this is do or die……….we need EXPERIENCE for these games.(TREZEGUET & VIERA both willing and able). So frustrating, I’ve lost faith.

Posted from United States

By John T | November 7th, 2009 at 5:08 am

In next world cup can you put France in this group.

1. France
2. Malta
3. Lichtenstein
4. Andorra
5. Faroe Islands
6. San Marino
7. Vatican
We might have omit the Vatican, there might be a mircle and France will end up second and we have through all this french wining again.

Posted from United States

By Michel-Olivier | November 7th, 2009 at 8:10 am

@ john
replace vatican with luxembourg

Posted from United States

By Michel-Olivier | November 7th, 2009 at 8:15 am

i would not be suprise if the astrologer deploy a 1-4-1-4

———mandanda———
———gallas——–
diara-diara-sissoko-diaby
——-gourcuff——-
govou-henry–gignac-anelka

Posted from United States

By Jean-François | November 7th, 2009 at 10:29 am

Michel, I’m not sure of that, Domenech will probably do the usual 4-4-2……but we most certainly need to play defensively the first game at Ireland.

By Peadir | November 8th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Peadir here from ireland
We’re gonna beat yis next saturday 2 0.

Posted from Ireland

By Dave Trotter | November 8th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

As I put on my website, I think that Domenech is finally making Sissoko a permanent player on the French squad. He is the perfect replacement for Patrick Vieira. I wrote a little on my blog about it.

http://frenchleague.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/french-24-named-for-ireland/

By Seed | November 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

I wonder what Domenech thinks about his 3 keepers conceding 12 goals in one match today. We can all start to pray 6 days in advance

Posted from Israel

By Jean-Bernard | November 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Always hatin on Govou

By kevo | November 8th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

demenech needs to be fired as soon as possible we are going no were with that loser. the squad is bad i dont see nasri the best guy the strikers need help we need expirence have henry and trezeget start then have cisse and anelka back them up off the bench makelele is old but he is a staight beast both diarra’s are weak. i know france is going to lose big time

By Jean-François | November 8th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

I AM SO NERVOUS!

By Sol | November 9th, 2009 at 10:12 am

With that line-up of players it’s amazing how much people here doubt France. I guess this coach must have really made a mess of things cause with the players France can chose from they should be able to wipe the floor with Ireland. Trezeguet being left out when available is a complete mystery to me. Especially if you’re already missing Ribery.

Posted from Netherlands

By Nick | November 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

again i’m puting this out there if you want to see domenech go the least you can do is try to do something, agreed its not like being the guy who can directly fire him but sign the petition and atleast you’ve done the most possible, then send it to avery one you know the more the better http://www.petitiononline.com/france10/petition.html

By sandrahn | November 9th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

MODERATORS: PLEASE DELETE SABBATH DAY’S RACIST POST!

Inara, Diaby is injured, he hasn’t been called up (or rather, he’s been de-selected).

Vieira has recently started a couple of Inter games (like the one v. Roma yesterday) where’s he’s been decent enuf. But I’m glad Domenech hasn’t called him up. Why can’t Vieira get it into this thick skull that he’s just not any good anymore, he’s lost his legs, he’d be a detriment to the national team? Zidane, Thuram and Makelele have all grasped the realities of aging, why can’t Vieira?

Like everyone else I too am nervous. France has better players but the Irish have a team mentality and a better manager.

Posted from United States

By Jean-Michel | November 9th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

Trezeguet 6 goals
Benzema 3 goals
Anelka 3 goals
Gomis 5 goals
Govou 2 goals
Remy 6 goals
Henry 1 goal

So…yeah. Serie A must be inferior to the other leagues or something. Goals in that league mean less than Ligue 1 apparently.

By princedesparcs | November 10th, 2009 at 1:12 am

As usual, Trap/Eire will pack it in and hope to score on the counter in both capitals. Which is why France needs to score first, and in Dublin. As much as Given bitched about seeding, this is the squad France likely would also have like to meet least (Scotland anyone?). And re Domenech: Quit your crying for a bit. To now seek signatures for a no-confidence petition is pathetic. Really, how different would anyone’s 11 and 24 be any different right now? Mexes and Trez? OK, maybe, but there’s plenty of reasons to keep them off, too. France started the qualifiers poorly, but made it a contest. And I saw a team improve through the hiccups that are internationals. I’d just like to see some faith in les Bleus, in what is more than a decent squad.

But Michel-Olivier, good call: I’d sell nearly all my possessions to see that squad play together.

I love the Irish people, but … Merde! Allez!

By rossenero | November 10th, 2009 at 5:40 am

remember how a strong France fared against scotland with Ribery and henry at his peak??this stale France will be puffed out by a better Ireland

Posted from Spain

By Doumé | November 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Very true words from princedesparcs!

By alessio | November 11th, 2009 at 12:52 am

Jean-Michel, and he was on the bench for most of the first few games. Trez has 6 goals in 6 starts…4 sub appearances. And for France…well, his scoring rate is something punks like Anelka and Govou dream of. Benzema is overrated right now with his Real move, too.

But like Frey, he will not be playing for France anytime soon.

By Jean-Michel | November 11th, 2009 at 3:25 am

I say “pfft” to all this nonsense Alessio.Its simple for most people to see: Put the ball in air or somewhere in the box and the kid will score!! I’m surprised Benzema gets any playing time at all though. I suppose Raul needs rest more often and Van Nistelroy is slowly coming back into the squad from some sort of injury.

By Ush1 | November 11th, 2009 at 11:31 am

I’m from Ireland and obviously France have the far superior talented lineup but I’m getting more and more optimistic. I just think that Frances coach and therefore the squad mentality might be off and let Ireland in. But hey, if your attacking talent can click it’ll be extremely tough for Ireland.

Posted from Ireland

By Keano | November 12th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

Hey all, im a proud irish man and am convinced if we can nick a goal in Dublin and keep it tight in Paris for the first 20 mins – we’ll have an excellent chance of going through. We all know the French public are not Domenech’s biggest fans – so if France are not turning the screw in us within 20 mins the French crowd will rare up on the players – and I can see alot of the French players wilt if this happens – France are a fantastic team but under the stress (of not qualifiying) i can see many of theirplayers panic and this will play straight into our hands!!!

Anyway – lets hope there both good games and ireland fans get to sun bathe in South Africa next summer lol.

VIVA EIRE

By Silviu | November 19th, 2009 at 2:23 am

I am so sad that france qualified for the world cup. All the romanians would wanted that ireland qualify. Hope that france will lose all games at the cup.

By Luis | November 19th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

I am from Spain. Yesterday I saw the match and I was about to cry. Cry because Ireland deserved to be in the world cup.It is completely unfair. It is time to use tecnology in football fields.Platini go ut, bullshit. The best for Ireland, LOVE YOU.Hope these bastards have to play against Spain and we send them home 5-0.

Posted from Argentina