France starting 11.

[Stivie_J]

gk-goupet
def from lf-rt evra-bomsong-silvtre-thuram
mid from lf-rt pires-zidane-vieira-govou
st henry-ciise

[gaijin]

Boumsong and Silvestre?


Are you crazy....:eek:

Coupet

Sagnol---Thuram---Gallas---Abidal/Evra

Vieira---Makelele

Ribery/Wiltord--Zizou--Henry

Trez

[Stivie_J]

ohh

i forgot sagnol and gallas :mad:

sagol must be on the right def and gallas play with thuram in centre.

:) :)

[ilv2]

Coupet

Sagnol---Thuram---Gallas---Abidal/Evra

Vieira---Makelele

Ribery/Wiltord--Zizou--Henry

Trez

I like that set-up, it may sacrifice a little offensive power but then again it was the defense that made the team so formidable in 98. Besides, with Zizou, Henry, Trezegol, and whoever on the right flank, that's enough offensive power to keep anyone occupied (not speaking too soon i hope!).

instead of ribery though i'd go for giuly - while i haven't watched a lot of barca this season and so have no idea how much he plays (it seems that messi might be getting more playing time), he has the experience and the ability. Now if only Domenech were replaced, we'd have something going...

[lefutur]

For a bit more offensive punch:


---------------Coupet---------------

Sagnol----Thuram----Gallas------Evra

--------------Makelele---------------

Ribery---------Zizou-----------Malouda

---------Anelka--------Henry---------

[sl7vk]

gk-goupet
def from lf-rt evra-bomsong-silvtre-thuram
mid from lf-rt pires-zidane-vieira-govou
st henry-ciise

Possibly the worst 11 I could think of. Where is Karembeu and Guivarch'?

[Stivie_J]

balance between offensive and defensive

---------------Coupet---------------

Sagnol----Thuram----Gallas------Evra


----------Makelele----Vieira-----------

-----------------Zidane---------------

----Ciise-------Trezegoal------Henry---


:cool:

[sl7vk]

That's looking better Stivie J. I would line up like this

-------------Coupet

Sagnol---Thuram---Gallas----Abidal

---------Maka------Vieira

Ribery------------------------Ribery

--------------Zidane

-------Trez--------------Henry

I put Ribery on the right and left because he would be allowed to float to either side of the field with Abidal or Sagnol filling the vacated corridor. I know that Domenech won't be lining up like this, but when I get offered the job by the FFF after the WC, this is how "we" will be lining up.... :)

[Stivie_J]

dear sl7vk,

your line up look cool. for me i never c Abidal play. only c evra play for monaco and also Ribery as well.

abidal and ribery play for which team? :rolleyes:

[sl7vk]

dear sl7vk,

your line up look cool. for me i never c Abidal play. only c evra play for monaco and also Ribery as well.

abidal and ribery play for which team? :rolleyes:

Abidal plays for Lyon and Ribery plays for Marseille.

[SportBoy333]

Boumsong and Silvestre?


Are you crazy....:eek:

Coupet

Sagnol---Thuram---Gallas---Abidal/Evra

Vieira---Makelele

Ribery/Wiltord--Zizou--Henry

Trez

Thuram is too old. Enough of him please. As for Abidal vs Evra, Evra needs to prove himself at MU for the next 6 months to warrant a starting place. Hopefully just being on the roster wont give him the edge to start he needs to play well at MU to deserve it.
You have to start Wiltord over Ribery but Ribery should replace him in the 2nd half in at least 2 of the group matches.

[gaijin]

Thuram is too old. Enough of him please. As for Abidal vs Evra, Evra needs to prove himself at MU for the next 6 months to warrant a starting place. Hopefully just being on the roster wont give him the edge to start he needs to play well at MU to deserve it.
You have to start Wiltord over Ribery but Ribery should replace him in the 2nd half in at least 2 of the group matches.

Thuram is still starting for Juve - who are one of the best defensive sides in Europe. But who else do you play at the back with his experience and ability?

There is no-one, hence he came back from retirement.

Ribery, Guily and Wiltord should compete for the right wing spot. But of course Ribery is the future and he should make that spot his own for the Euros in 2008.

[SportBoy333]

How about Givet or Squallaci ? They will be penalized simply because they dont play for Lyon or in England, Italy, or Spain but I think they are more than capable of getting the job done.

[bwiorly]

As for Abidal vs Evra, Evra needs to prove himself at MU for the next 6 months to warrant a starting place.

Agreed. And from what we saw in the Manchester derby this past weekend, he's going to have to step it up big time. I certainly don't want to judge him on just one (half) game, but he needs to do a lot better in his positioning and in terms of his physical presence on the field.

Re: Abidal--he needs to be fit...

Here's my starting 11:

Coupet/Barthez (*)

Sagnol-Thuram-Gallas-Abidal

Vieira-Makelele

Pirès (**)-Zidane-Henry

Trezeguet

(*) I might be the only one, but I'm neutral on the Coupet vs. Barthez debate. Two good keepers--I'll be happy with either one of them in goals. Now Domenech has to do everything in his power to make sure a healthy rivarly doesn't turn into a Kahn vs. Lehman type of situation.

(**) I know, I know... Still the best complement to Zidane, Henry and Trézéguet IMHO.

[SportBoy333]

I have a fear that Evra will get a starting place just because he plays for MU and in the EPL. I dont think he will have to earn it.

[gaijin]

How about Givet or Squallaci ? They will be penalized simply because they dont play for Lyon or in England, Italy, or Spain but I think they are more than capable of getting the job done.

Tried in the WCQ's and failed. They need more time but do they really want to be given the time in the World Cup finals. Go with your best XI and so far Thuram is part of that.

[SportBoy333]

The Barthez vs Coupet debate isnt even an issue in my opinion. Barthez's time has come and gone. A goalie who plays for like the 10th best team in the French League isnt gonna start and doesnt deserve to.

[gaijin]

The Barthez vs Coupet debate isnt even an issue in my opinion. Barthez's time has come and gone. A goalie who plays for like the 10th best team in the French League isnt gonna start and doesnt deserve to.

I think the games against Ireland, Switzerland and Costa Rica showed why Coupet is the starter and Barthez is 2nd choice.

[navid90]

Barthez
Sagnol Thuram Gallas
Vieira Makelele
Ribery Zidane Malouda
Henry Trezeguet

[Shevchenko27]

Pires? I cant think of a formation that makes sense without Pires, Mak, Vieira, Trez, Henry, Thuram and Zidane. Thuram, Mak and Zidane all catch flak for being too old, but experience is so crucial in the world cup that even if they werent 3 of the best players talent-wise, it would still be smart to put them ahead of maybe slightly better, less experienced players.

But thats besides the point since Mak starts for one of the best teams in the world, Thuram is still competitive in the highest ranks of defense, and Zidane is still one of the most dangerous, well rounded players on the planet. Zidane is deservingly captain, and if Henry underpeforms as usual on the national stage (when his entire team isnt built around him scoring), Zidane will likely have to rise to the occasion to keep his team together.