Les Bleuets [R]

[Suyuntuy]

Min 71:

In: Lynel Kitambala. Out: Gabriel Obertan.
In: David N'Gog. Out: Frédéric Nimani.

Same formation.

PS: Min 77 - change in formation, front line:

----------Mollo----------
Kitambala----------N'Gog

[Suyuntuy]

Min. 80:

Estonian defense Puri gets a second yellow = red.

In: Cheikh M'Bengue. Out: William Vainqueur. Same formation.

Since Kembo left, the Estonians have neutralized the attack some by marking Martin closely. This shows how important is to have a lethal striker: even on a bad day, he will draw resources from the rivals and allow for more variegated attack.

[Suyuntuy]

Estonia defends desperately with 10. Kitambala ruins chance after chance.

Min. 85:

In: Jean Kana-Biyik. Out: Lamine Gassama.

Martin is an impressive player. He opens play passing through four Estonian players.

Finally, 3-0, scored by Kana-Biyik after another fail by Kitambala and about five attempts to clear by the Estonian defense.

[Suyuntuy]

It's over. Good game.

Thuram - 7. He was almost a spectator the whole match, only one save needed. Otherwise, he did a good job organizing his defense, was sure in the air and precise when coming out.

Gassama - 5.5. Didn't project enough, the right side was where most of the Estonian attacks came through.

--> Kana-Biyik - 6. on for Gassama only for the last five minutes but in that time projected as much as Traoré on the other side and even scored a goal.

Dervite - 6. Had a better second half, a source of slight problems on occasion but covered well by Sissoko and Dembélé.

Dembélé - 7.5. Solid defender. Precise with the sweeps. Reminds me of a younger Gallas.

Traoré - 7. Good with the projections, some bad passes but overall fast enough to play as wingback.

Sissoko - 7. Strong work as defensive mid, good cover for when the right side of the defense was in trouble during the first half. Good passing in short.

--> Tulasne - 5. Moved to the right and left DM position to Vainqueur when he came in. Tries to keep the ball for too long, helped in a couple of plays but otherwise not important.

Vainqueur - 7. Excellent 1-2 play with Martin in the first 30 mins. Then tended to go back and cover for Sissoko. Second half job not as good.

--> M'Bengue - 4.5. Practically invisible in the 10 minutes he was there.

Martin - 9. All interesting play started with him. The brains of the team, often playing the #10 position. First goal happened thanks to his great through pass that split open the Estonian defense.

Obertan - 8. Good first half, better second. The second goal was his play, dribbling several players to make the final pass.

--> Kitambala - 4. Frustrating. This guy is great at positioning and fast like a speeding bullet, but he shoots either too high, or straight at the keeper. Or thinks two seconds too long and loses the ball.

Nimani - 7.5. Always dangerous, but sometimes a bit selfish.

--> N'Gog - 6. Fast, good vision, but proved nervous in the area, always looking to make a pass instead of shooting.

Kembo - 9. MOTM with the two goals, and the most threatening presence up front in the game.

--> Mollo - 5. When he came in France lost its edge and it was lucky the Estonians were reduced to 10 or we wouldn't have scored again. A timid attacker, playing out of his normal position -and it showed.

Overall, a very good game. The future looks bright, still.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Nice synopsis. I only got to see the last 15 minutes of the game so I didn't comment. They played real well the first half I gather?

[Suyuntuy]

They're playing quite well, also, today: 2-0 over the England sub 21. England has had virtually no real chances to score, the French defense solid like a rock. Sissoko is playing a great game, and (as noted by the commentators) the only unknown is the keeper Carrasso because he's had almost no work in none of these games.

[Suyuntuy]

And again Mollo fails to impress. He came in for Traoré and since he's been in, the attack on that side has subsided.

[lefutur]

what a difference an attacking formation makes. i turned on FSC and was like, wow, France look really good when they arent being coached by Domenech.

[Suyuntuy]

I know. Although the last 15 minutes they pulled back and England attacked. Carrasso had three neat saves. I'm still sad that we're not going to the UEFA U-21 only because of that last minute goal by the Germans. France U-21 is better than most of the teams going there.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

And this was a very young side too. I was really impressed by what I saw from those guys. Attacking free flowing football?! Who would have thought guys with roosters on their shirts could do such a thing? Sankhare and Sissoko complemented each other well. Obertan played very well the first half. I especially like how much les espoirs attacking players pressured England into creating so many turnovers in their own half. It wasn't until the last 20 minutes that England looked particularly dangerous.

[zizouForlife]

its always good to defeat opponents at their home soil. very proud of our future )made me forget temporary about Ray's team)

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Yea it's a real disapointment not to be able to see these guys, in the summer.

[lefutur]

its always good to defeat opponents at their home soil. very proud of our future )made me forget temporary about Ray's team)

If they switched coaches the freeflowing football would be just as attractive with the senior squad.

by way of comparison, France-Lithuania is about to start at Stade de France with Diarra-Diarra in midfield. yawn.....

[JohnMercy22]

Here is an article about Ribery saving Les Bleuets again.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1634062/winners_and_losers_from_world_cup_qualifications.html?cat=14

[guignol]

thanks for the link john, but les bleuets refers to the U-23 team, les espoirs. the big boys are just called les bleus.

[JAIME CHILE]

Hello to everyone:)

U21 Toulon Tournament:

Group A

June 3rd(Toulon):
Egypt - U.A.Emirates
Holland - Argentine

June 5th(La Seyne):
Holland - U.A.Emirates
Egypt - Argentine

June 7tho(Saint-Cyr and Bormes):
Argentine - U.A.Emirates
Holland - Egypt

Group B

June 4th(Toulon):
Portugal - Chile
France - Qatar

June 6th(Toulon):
France - Portugal
Qatar - Chile

June 8th(Saint-Cyr and Aubagne):
Portugal - Qatar
France - Chile


June 10th(Toulon)
Semifinals

June 12th(Toulon)
3rd place match and FINAL.
--------------------------
Last year we lost the final against Italy.
This time our team isn't so strong, and our coach Ivo Basay (Stade de Reims's forward in the 80's) is an asshole.:(

[JAIME CHILE]

Portugal-Chile 0:1:)

France-Qatar 1:0

[JAIME CHILE]

France 1 Portugal 0

Chile 3 Qatar 0:)

1. Chile 6 +4
2. France 6 +2
__________
3. Portugal 0
4. Qatar 0

On monday (last game of this group)

France-Chile

Both squads going to play in semifinals, Argentina too.

[JAIME CHILE]

France-Chile "B" 0:1:)
Goal: Martínez.

Semifinals (wednesday).

Chile-Holland
Argentina-France

[MetroChile]

France-Chile "B" 0:1:)
Goal: Martínez.

Semifinals (wednesday).

Chile-Holland
Argentina-France

This is no "B squad, bro: these are merely our U21s representing us very well. :cool: