France News Roundup

February 26th, 2010 | by: Sarah |

Best Of Equipe De France Football (Buts, legends…) 2/2
Uploaded by lulu2705. – More professional, college and classic sports videos.

What if John Terry had been a member of the French team instead of England- how different would things be? Wenger explains what Sepp Blatter attempted to say (and failed miserably).

Check out who France will be playing against when they meet Spain next week- Vincent Del Bosque’s team list is available here. Basically, we are playing a lot of Real Madrid and Barcelona with a bit of Liverpool and Arsenal thrown in. Can’t wait! To refresh your memory on our other World Cup qualification preparation matches, see Laurie’s post here. [Credit: FFF]

We don’t know who will be coaching Les Bleus yet in the post South Africa France Team, but the FFF have announced the first slate of games France will play after the World Cup this summer. France is scheduled to play against Norway (August 11, 2010 @Norway), England (November 17, 2010 @Wembley) and Brazil (February 9, 2011 @Stade de France). The FFF have not announced the date for the March international break (March 29)- but this competition looks promising! I can’t wait to dispel the myth being propagated through the English media that England is God’s gift to football by thoroughly crushing them at home. Ugh. [Credit: FFF]

As you know, injuries affecting many of France’s regular call-ups have given (read: forced) Domenech to make some new and interesting invitations to some new players as well as old favorites. One of those old favorites is Louis Saha who has been producing some great stuff at Everton. Upon hearing his recall, fans were excited but he remains nonchalant… [Credit: Goal.com]

Though Domenech gave several players opportunities to prove themselves against Spain…Djibril Cisse was not one of them. How did he react? By eliminating Roma in the Europa League- maybe now he has captured Raymond’s attention? I doubt it. Raymond is such a snob about the teams and leagues the French national team plays for. The man will hardly set foot in a Ligue 1 stadium- I can’t imagine him schlepping to Greece. [Credit: Goal.com]

Sport.co.uk takes a stab at the top 10 French starlets. I would hardly categorize Mamadou Sakho (PSG) as an “up and coming” French starlet– he is young but he has been playing in Ligue 1 for years and has even captained PSG!

Another reason why Ribery annoys me…he constantly name drops. Henry is desperate for his company at Barcelona. For more reasons why Frank is perhaps one of the most overrated players see this post from The Offside-Real Madrid and this post from Ligue 1 Talk/French Soccer. Before berating me, please understand that I am willing to concede that Ribery is a gifted individual player and dangerous weapon for any team– but he is still annoying. [Credit: Goal.com]

Earlier this week, I gave you my picks for players to watch as we approach the World Cup- now check out Martin’svery thorough analysis. [Credit: Ligue 1 Talk/French Soccer]

Titi finally has some good press. First, he inspires some humble and loving words from Jens Lehman. And ESPN has also given a shockingly fair and even account of Henry’s situation at Barcelona.

France World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://france.theoffside.com/ Thomas

Looking forward to the England and Brazil friendlies already.

I believe Martin wrote the 60 million Frenchmen etc. post, not Dave.
Sarah

Thomas: Thanks for the catch- I’ve made the correction.
Michel-Olivier

i have to disagree with the top 10 talents. saivet‘The new Thierry Henry’ this is an insult to titi, saivet is not even french. the new henry is obertan and kmp.
http://france.theoffside.com/ Thomas

Michel-Olivier: When it comes to football, Dakar seems to be an extension of France. Evra and Viera were born there as well. What matters is where they grew up and started playing football.
Jao

That list is horrible. Vincent Acapandié is 20 and yet to make his debut. Sanogo, also of Auxerre, made his debut at 16. It should be:

1. Sissoko (Toulouse)
2. Kakuta (Chelsea)
3. Sakho (PSG)
4. M’Vila (Rennes)
5. Tafer (Lyon)
6. Corchia (Le Mans)
7. Sanogo (Auxerre)
8. Situ (Lens)
9. Fofana (Le Havre)
10. Areola (PSG)

I remember someone on the offside doing a promising french players article with about 50 players. Should do 100. We have so much promising talent. No wonder English clubs always come on their hands and knees to our country begging for them.
Michel-Olivier

the way i see it is
1. saivet (senegalese)
2. sakho (senegalese)
3. tabanou (french)
4. coquelin (french)
5. sunu (togolese)
6. acapandie (french)
7. kabuta (congolese)
8. boga (senegalese)
9. mohammed (algerian) he doesn’t even hold french passport
10. mavinga (togolese)
Sarah

Michel-Olivier: Yes, we all know how you see it. But, as I have said before, this blog is NOT the appropriate place to discuss what constitutes French national identity or who should not be considered “French”. It is pointless– and until the FFF, FIFA or the French government changes its immigration policies these players are able to play for both France and/or their parent’s country.

You can make comments on players who should or should not be picked for the French team– but please refrain from comments that make this argument based on place of origin if they meet the criteria to have/gain French citizenship.
fares

unfortunately i had the same remark as michel-olivier..you know it’s too obvious..
http://france.theoffside.com/ Thomas

Michel-Olivier: Your nationality classifications are completely ridiculous. Sakho was born in Paris and has lived there his entire life. He is of Guinean and Senegalese descent. That makes him Senegalese how? I’m an American, born in the United States of America. I’m of Swedish and English descent. I am not English, nor am I Swedish.
Jao

So, Michel-Olivier: Do you want us to select other players. How about we select Philippe Mexes, well going by your logic, he wouldn’t be French as he has Portuguese heritage. What about Gourcuff? Well, his parents are Breton, who originated from the United Kingdom, so why is he in the squad, Michel-Olivier? What about Flamini and Squillaci. Their families come from the island of Corsica who originated from Italy. They shouldn’t be called up either. Gignac? Well, his mother is Algerian and he’s Romani. Do you complain about these players being in the squad?

Your rhetoric is extremely flawed and embarrassing and it’s borderline racism.
Michel-Olivier

@thomas
i believe in jus sanguinis(right of blood)

@joa
i myself have corsican and antillean ancestry.
corsican, alsatian, breton, reunionnais, french antillean(martinque, guadeloupe, guyane francaise…), french polynesian(tahiti), caledonian, mayotte, basque, occitan… = french
Jao

“@joa
i myself have corsican and antillean ancestry.
corsican, alsatian, breton, reunionnais, french antillean(martinque, guadeloupe, guyane francaise…), french polynesian(tahiti), caledonian, mayotte, basque, occitan… = french”

^^^yet a person that was born and raised in France and has spent his entire life in the country isn’t?
Jean-François

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1175161.html#cisse+added+france+squad

^ Cisse is on the squad!
Sarah

@Jean-Francois: Thanks for the update! Though this clearly proves my point about Saha. Sorry Louis- it is just true- the guy has a hard time staying injury free for more than a few games. It is tough to hold a player accountable for something they have no control over, but…

@Michel Olivier, Joa and Thomas: Guys- I appreciate that you’ve been able to have this discussion in a mature fashion (usually it quickly disintegrates into racist taunts and name calling)– but I’m weary to allow it to continue simply because it still might escalate. As I said before, RDomenech has every right to call these players to play for France and until that changes we will not be discussing it here!
Jean-François

Sarah. It also proves that MAYBE(knock on wood) Domenech is actually researching and making decisions instead of reading horoscopes!(although I do find horoscopes very interesting).

For the record: I am a French National living in the United States, I was born and raised in the United States and have always been a dual-citizen. And I consider myself French, I speak French, own a French passport & birth-certificate, and have an inherited French culture. If I somehow became a ridiculous football player I reserve my right to play for either the French or American national teams(& I think I know who you would choose). I am French, and everyone on the FNT, is….FRENCH

I understand this is not the place too discuss this so I am finished, you can delete my comment if needed Sarah.

Anyhow I find it very interesting that Doms called up a player from the Greek league, considering he hardly calls up ligue 1 players. Do you think he is changed? Was he BLACKMAILED? I hope so.