Les Bleus - World Cup Draw [R]

[midknight]

This is the proof that les Bleus are a team of old convalescents...Fifa actually allowed them to use a walker into the second round :D

Seriously though, with the possible exception of Germany or Spain, France has the most unimpressive THREE opponents. Everyone seems to agree on the fact that South Korea away from home and without Hiddink isn't the same story, Togo has no World Cup history and doesn't instill the same fear that someone like Ivory Coast, Ghana or Ukraine can, and Switzerland are one of the lowest rank European countries, needed a playoff to get through, are not a regular of the competition, didn't have a particularly stellar campaign (as compared to serbia or ukraine for example), and couldn't beat the same France in two matches during the qualification.

Strangely enough, this group has a weird symmetry to the 2002 group:

Swiss = Denmark: ( a competent European team that France meets a lot. Will give a good match but aren't expected to cause an upset)
Togo = Senegal: Newbie African team of which not much is expected but some exciting football
South Korea = Uruguay: team with World Cup pedigree but which is clearly not on the same level as in its glory day

Before I get pounded again, I'm not trying to insinuate anything, one can make the same comparison with 1998.

Switzerland = Denmark (for the same reasons stated above)
Togo = South Africa (for the same reasons listed above)
South Korea = Saudi Arabia (the Saudis were coming off their surprising 1994 second round appearance but were evidently not the same team)

In any case, I highly suggest that France take advantage of the group stages to work out whatever issues they may have. Once the quarter final begins (unless spain chokes and finishes second) and the real business starts, there'll be little room for error.

[RandyNA74]

[Italy fan]Wow, just wow.

All I can say is...beat Korea for us. ;) [/Italy fan]

I still have a very positive vibe about this WC, though, whether or not our group is considered the group of death. It's at worst the second strongest group in the tournament.

[K:theCore]

For those of you who think Korea isnt the same as it was in 2002, try again.

Park Ji Sung (United), Lee Yong Pyo (Tottenham), Seol Ki Hyon (Wolverhampton), and Ahn Jung Hwan (Metz) form the nucleus of this team. The rest of the team is basically the same. We have a few bright new-comers who have come onboard and Advocaat has brought back basically the same tactics as those instilled by Hiddink. Plus the same two assistant coaches to Hiddink (Pim Verbeek and Ashfin Gotbi) who brought a lot of tactical and opposing team intelligence are back with the team after several years of absence since 2002.

Since Advocaat joined we've beatan Iran (2-0), tied Sweden (2-2), and beatan Serbia Montenegro (2-0) (2 players shy of full strength). All three games emphasized an attacking style with quick passes with constant motion and running (all three were in November). Both coaches from the two Euro teams came out to say after the games that Korea in their groups for 2006 with be a 'nightmare.'

[K:theCore]

Sweden and Serbia highlights. Do not take Korea lightly.



http://www.cnu.ac.kr/~labor/board/ezboard.cgi?db=Photo_Board&action=down&dbf=189&ftype=file&file=1112swvko.wmv



http://playend.com/bbs/bugboard.php?board_id=soccer_memMov&work=show&uid=35&page=&num=&search=&op=&op_n=&op_t=&op_b=&op_u=&cate=&year=&month=&ex=&return=

[sl7vk]

Sweden and Serbia highlights. Do not take Korea lightly.
As a Man United fan, it's very hard to take anything you say seriously.

[soji22]

Could Togo be the next Senegal?

!!!!!

No, they won't have the bravado of the Senegalese.

[K:theCore]

Whats the word on your guys' friendlies? Do any of you have a schedule that you can post please....

[sl7vk]

Whats the word on your guys' friendlies? Do any of you have a schedule that you can post please....

Mercredi 1er mars 2006
Match amical au Stade de France (21h00)
France-Slovaquie


Du vendredi 9 juin au dimanche 9 juillet 2006
Phase finale de la Coupe du Monde en Allemagne

Mardi 13 juin 2006
Au Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion à Stuttgart (18h00)
France-Suisse

Dimanche 18 juin 2006
Au Zentralstadion à Leipzig (21h00)
France-Corée du Sud

Vendredi 23 juin 2006
au FIFA WM-Stadion (RheinEnergie Stadion) à Cologne (21h00)
France-Togo


Looks like only 1 friendly left, against Slovakia March 1st.

[Breakwood]

Mercredi 1er mars 2006
Match amical au Stade de France (21h00)
France-Slovaquie


Du vendredi 9 juin au dimanche 9 juillet 2006
Phase finale de la Coupe du Monde en Allemagne

Mardi 13 juin 2006
Au Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion à Stuttgart (18h00)
France-Suisse

Dimanche 18 juin 2006
Au Zentralstadion à Leipzig (21h00)
France-Corée du Sud

Vendredi 23 juin 2006
au FIFA WM-Stadion (RheinEnergie Stadion) à Cologne (21h00)
France-Togo


Looks like only 1 friendly left, against Slovakia March 1st.

Rumour has it that France is in talks with a couple nations for some friendlies.
Jamaica, Mexico, Denmark, Paraguay, Finland, China, and get this...Canada!

Apparently one of these will take place the 27th of May at Stade De France, and there will be 2 more games at other dates and venues.

[gaijin]

They will probably play some low key games near the start of tounament anyway - against smaller club oppostion in Germany at lower league stadiums or behind closed doors just to get everyone fit.

At the last WC, many teams played some j-league sides or local semi-pro sides.

[lefutur]

They will probably play some low key games near the start of tounament anyway - against smaller club oppostion in Germany at lower league stadiums or behind closed doors just to get everyone fit.

At the last WC, many teams played some j-league sides or local semi-pro sides.

We played S. Korea. What a mistake that was!

[Saugatak]

We played S. Korea. What a mistake that was!
Avoidable mistake last time.

Unavoidable mistake this time! ;)

[Juve_passion redded]

2006 Result for Group G

1. France
2. Korea
3. Switzerland
4. Togo

[Juve_passion redded]

Yo man,
Korea can easily handly Switerland and Togo for sure.
About France?
I know France isn't at peak,
but guess what, France is traditionally one of the best in Europe.
Come on.
Korea may beat France if luck is on your own.
But I think it won't be easy.

For those of you who think Korea isnt the same as it was in 2002, try again.

Park Ji Sung (United), Lee Yong Pyo (Tottenham), Seol Ki Hyon (Wolverhampton), and Ahn Jung Hwan (Metz) form the nucleus of this team. The rest of the team is basically the same. We have a few bright new-comers who have come onboard and Advocaat has brought back basically the same tactics as those instilled by Hiddink. Plus the same two assistant coaches to Hiddink (Pim Verbeek and Ashfin Gotbi) who brought a lot of tactical and opposing team intelligence are back with the team after several years of absence since 2002.

Since Advocaat joined we've beatan Iran (2-0), tied Sweden (2-2), and beatan Serbia Montenegro (2-0) (2 players shy of full strength). All three games emphasized an attacking style with quick passes with constant motion and running (all three were in November). Both coaches from the two Euro teams came out to say after the games that Korea in their groups for 2006 with be a 'nightmare.'

[SShibalNom]

Yo man,
Korea can easily handly Switerland and Togo for sure.
About France?
I know France isn't at peak,
but guess what, France is traditionally one of the best in Europe.
Come on.
Korea may beat France if luck is on your own.
But I think it won't be easy.

As far as I'm concerned I'll be happy for second place in the group. No one can touch Zidane, and we were lucky he went off in the game in Suwon.

By the way I was there and the French fans that made it were great. It was a damn good game all around. We should have won, but eh what the hell it was a good and entertaining game nontheless. We smacked Scotland and drew with England before the France match, but I knew we were destined for great things after that game.