France 1, Greece 0

November 15th, 2006 | by: Laurie |

Well, that was a fun way to spend an afternoon. Henry put it away with a gorgeous diving header in the 26th, and after that it was all fun and games. Les Bleus dominated far more than the score would indicate — beautiful tackles, great control, perfect passes. Only a few little booboos to keep things interesting, (what the heck was that Thuram-Coupet thing?!?!) but I was able to watch most of the game without getting a stomachache.

It would have been nice to see them put it in the net another time or two, but I have to admit that my offensive expectations were pretty low coming in. With Benzema out, Govou out, Ribéry out, Trezeguet not called up, Henry not playing at his best at Arsenal, and Anelka… Well, what’s Anelka been up to at Bolton this year? (Didn’t I recently read a pre-World Cup quote from Anelka where he badmouthed players who are called up for a National team when they’re not performing for their Clubs? Funny how things like that can come back to bite you.)

But Anelka subbed in for Saha the second half, and I have to say, he really spiced things up. Say what you will about Le Sulk, he played well today, and he really does make games fun to watch. (Although you can take everything I say about the second-half subs with a grain of salt, because I had to miss twenty minutes in the middle and have no idea what happened then.) Whether he’s looking impossibly affronted about an offsides call or taking out an opposing player and pretending it didn’t happen… Well, I think MLS could use Anelka. We need a little excitement.

I also really enjoy watching Abidal and Malouda together. They completely dominated the left in the first half. I like Evra a lot, but when he came on in the second half there just wasn’t quite the same click. Hopefully that will come with time? I guess there is something to be said for pulling a bunch of players from the same Club.

Clerc came in for Willy Sagnol, also at the half. I’m undecided about Clerc. He seemed to play decently (keeping in mind again that I missed twenty minutes of his playing time,) but I’m having a hard time getting excited about him. Maybe it’s that goofy running style.

I was a bit surprised to see Alou Diarra subbed in for Makelele instead of Toulalan. Last I heard, Toulalan had bumped Diarra at Lyon and was Les Bleus great hope to replace Makelele. Did I miss something, or is Domenech just hedging his bets?

All in all, a great game. And congratulations to captain Patrick Vieira on playing well in the game where he received his 100th cap!

List of players after the jump.

Players for France-Greece

G. Coupet
W. Sagnol — F. Clerc 46′
L. Thuram
W. Gallas
E. Abidal — P. Evra 46′
C. Makelele — A. Diarra 46′
P. Vieira
S. Wiltord
F. Malouda
L. Saha — N. Anelka 46′
T. Henry

Subs not used
M. Landreau
J. Escudé
S. Squillaci
A. Mavuba
J. Toulalan

France World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://france.theoffside.com Sam

I. HATE. CLERC.
He’s indesiscive, can’t handle the ball, and you said it, he runs funny.
John

Was only France playing?
I am wondering since you mention nothing about the other side who happen to be Euro 2004 champions and beat France then?
luca

I didn’t get a chance to watch the game but from what I read and was told France simply outclassed the Greek team. That France outplayed greece should come as no surprise considering the players we have.

I’m looking forward to putting the beat down on some of the “so called” bigger NT clubs.

Allez
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

I dunno, John. For a lot of the game it did look to me like there was only one team on the field.

2004, yes. 2006, not even close.

Since I write the France Team page, you can generally expect me to be just a teensy bit biased. Or more than a teensy bit. I tend to divide all news into just two categories: 1) My Team and 2) Not My Team. And I actually only care about the first type.

But welcome anyway!
BIB

France has an advantage that other teams don’t have…Their team is composed of some of the best African players in the world, I know they are French citizens but the blood is African. Let’s face it African players are stronger and faster than everyone else and they have greater endurance. Take all that and the fact that they play in extremely competative European clubs and you basically have machines. Who’s going to outdo this team, you tell me..It’s almost farcical.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

BIB, The option of utilizing an immigrant population, regardless of where they come from, is open to all teams and all countries. France is not the only country with a large immigrant group. But it seems that France is one of the only European teams to really embrace these players on their National team.

Making a blanket statement that “African players are stronger and faster than everyone else and they have greater endurance” is an oversimplified stereotype. But I will agree that France currently has some very strong players of African descent. They also have strong players who are not immigrants or of African descent.

I think other teams are going to have to look beyond skin color and adopt France’s “black, blanc, beur” (black, white, arab) attitude or be left behind.
BIB

“France is one of the only European teams to really embrace these players on their National team”

I think they have to, they’ll fail miserably without them.

“They also have strong players who are not immigrants or of African descent”

Yeah, Maybe two.

“I think other teams are going to have to look beyond skin color and adopt France’s “black, blanc, beur” (black, white, arab) attitude or be left behind.”

Do you honestly think these “other teams” are concerned about skin colour. I’m sure any team would kill for some of the African talent that France possess but there’s one problem they all live in France. I guess it pays to colonize.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

This topic has come up several times in the few weeks I’ve been here and I find it interesting and controversial.

We have a long lull between now and the Argentina game on Feb. 7. I’m going to address the immigration/colonization/black-blanc-beur issue in a post soon. I hope you’ll stop back by and participate in the discussion!
Thierry

What is farcical that is the growing frightening racist comments we can read on the web.
RACIST: a person who believe in existence of “race” of human being and who think by this skew there is a hierarchy between human being.

“Blood” is nothing. You can’t define if a human is black or white seeing his blood analisys. RACES DO NOT EXIST IN HUMANITY, WE SHOULD SAY ETHNIC GROUPS WHICH REFFER TO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND NOT BLOOD ONES. The runner with the most big stamina of this team is white and is called Sagnol. Zidane is white. Yes sorry for you but arabic persons are white. If blood would be so important as you said we would see systematically dynasties of sportmen of scientists, of genius. in fact, it is extremely rare.

What is extremely common on the other hand is the recurrence of racist bullsh*ts. We can easily made an history of racist “ideas” and arguments. I presume if i argue you that Black german players are less physical amazing than white ones you will argue the “superiority of the german blood” exactly like Adolf and his fans.

Posted from
Thierry

“Do you honestly think these “other teams” are concerned about skin colour. I’m sure any team would kill for some of the African talent that France possess but there’s one problem they all live in France. I guess it pays to colonize.”

IN ALL THE WESTERN EUROPEANS COUNTRIES, IN CANADA TWO(may be more in Canada) there is about the same ratio of african immigrants. THE big difference is(and the big tabbo too) do you think these countries are able to accept so easily black peoples in there teams the racism of the italian fans or spanish ones is not totally a legend. There are always m*nkeys cries in these country. The presence of Odonkor in Germany broke a taboo, with difficulty, and one of the reason of the boycott of Davids and Seedorf was the difficulty behind withe and black in Holland team.
Thierry

And another question Bib why beyond you there is no black people in hockey team us or Canada? Because you will respond me the gene of black peoples are incompatoble with ice?
Thierry

England as France was a colonisator and by far england team isn’t France one, Why?
If you aren’t biased ask yourself the real question:
-How many players and, so good and very good player are exiting of the french formation center each year?
happy

Interesting discussion.
Thierry, I totally agree with what you say.
France is a good team. Period. What has race got to do with it?
BIB

The french are so touchy about this subject…It’s OK guys i understand Peace
Fair

Theiry, Well said, Well Said.

I am Black and I completely agree with you. It is amazing how sometimes we just not give respect when respect is due, instead of saying ohh they are black and they are big and they are fast, because of their race.

Why dont we say, wow, that man has trained so well, and his physical appearance is good, he is a skilled player and has great strength because he worked at it and built himself to that level. why dont we acknowledge that it is our work ethic that has given us this stature and not our race.

It amazes me how people would look at a black person and assume that all his gifts and talents came because it is in his blood, no it aint because of that. It is because he worked at it and he became great.

I know we have our differences on who I think is better between argentina and france, but in regards to race. I am with you guys. Mainly Theiry. you said it well, my friend.