Even if South Africa and Mexico draw, I don't understand why either of the team's mentality would be to play for a draw on the first match. You always want to score as many points whenever possible, and the first game is the best game to take the risk on going on the offensive because if you get burnt by the counter you have 2 games to make up for it. France is in shambles, losing to a weak sided China and then barely squeaking by Costa Rica does not bold well. not at all. Ribery is their lone grasp on hope but he can't possibly lead France to victory like Zidane did in '06.
Whats Urugauys 11? Fucile and Alvaro Periera as wingbacks? Maxi plays rightmid ahead of fucile or more centrally? Theres alot of versatility within this squad.
Noo!, please no Fucile any where near the 11. nah Uruguays most likely line up being said by uruguayan media is going to be 3-4-1-2 Muslera Victorino Lugano Godin Maxi---- Diego Perez ---Arevalo Rios-----A.Pereira Nacho Gonzalez Forlan Suarez When defending it will become more like a 5-2-1-2 with Maxi and Alvaro Pereira dropping to defend a lot, both are quick and strong so should help in keeping Ribery and Anelka quiet. Diego Perez and Arevalo Rios are defensive minded midfielders as well. Nacho Gonzalez will be the playmaker. The you got Lodeiro, Cavani, Caceres, Gargano and Abreu that could come in and make a difference if needed.
first problem with this lineup is that neither nasri nor lass is in the 23. and you're forgetting toulalan, the only player whose presence in the 11 is and has always been a rock-solid 100% certainty. i agree with everything here, except the notion 5 points gets you through. i'll leave the comparative strength of mexico and uruguay to the latin experts but they could very well draw too, and from france's viewpoint they have a lot better chance against mexico than uruguay, because based on what i've seen mexico will leave them space to play. 1+3+3 points is a better calculation for us than 3+1+3. and to risk leaving all three points to uruguay is the worst case scenario. france in 2006 is the best proof that you don't need to blitz your group to go far. peaking too early is to avoid. a draw between these two is exactly what would take away any incentive for risk. because all three contenders should expect 3 points from SA, mexico not getting them puts the two others in the driver's seat. i'm not fool enough to say france is in great shape, but of the 3 recent friendlies the one to make us worry was tunisia, where we just managed to draw and could have left town with a big beating. costa rica (the first match) was actually very encouraging, the tico goal coming against the grain in a match that had france written all over it, and the china match means very little: china's goal came on their only half-chance on a FK that didn't look dangerous even after it was in the back of the net! and even attacking halfheartedly, with priority n°1 being not to get hurt 45 minutes from south africa, france could have scored a suitcasefull if the chinese keeper hadn't been so good.
Maybe. Abreu is the 1st choice at forward from the bench. I don't like the guy since he misses a lot of easy goals, but he seems to always be at the right place at the right time. At around minute 65, Abreu will go in for Suarez. Almost guaranteed.
leko's no choirboy but at least he doesn't play. the only players he can beat up are his teammates at practice!
I thought the SA game was excellent, especially for an opening match. Close, expansive play from both sides, good chances for both teams, good refereeing, and a beautiful goal. If this match lives up to the standard that it set, I will be a very happy football fan.
France's starting XI confirmed by FIFA. No Malouda or Henry. Lloris; Evra, Abidal, Gallas, Sagna; Toulalan, Diaby, Gourcuff; Ribery, Govou, Anelka. http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=1/day=1/match=300061453/index.html
France: Lloris; Evra, Gallas, Abidal, Sagna; Toulalan, Diaby; Rivery, Gourcuff, Govou; Anelka. 4-2-3-1 Uruguay: Muslera; Victorino, Lugano, Godin; M. Pereira, Arevalo Rios, Perez, A. Pereira; Gonzalez; Forlan, Suarez. 3-4-1-2