Domenech picks Final Squad

[KUBI_nu11]

Obviously, most everyone is pissed that giuly didn't get picked, and with good reason.


Well said !


in all honesty (imho) we have a better chance than england, germany, or italy our only opponents for the jules rimet are brazil

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:






Barthez number 1? :rolleyes: What the f*** is going on? Do you guys think that the players wanted him rather than Coupet or Domenech is just an idiot?

Not that I care that much because with Barthez and Boumsong my squad as better chance of scoring. lol

[jpg75]

what? that absolutely ridiculous; supporting a team shouldn't prevent one from analyzing its deficiencies and the causes thereof.

exactly. thank you.

[Nanbawan]

Either you support the team now or you stop the rants. It's time to look forward to the games. There are bigger fishes to fry than Raymond!

Boah, that's the name of the game on a discussion board. Otherwise Bigsoccer and a lot of bistrots would have to be closed. ;)

[Pierre-Henri]

Barthez number 1? :rolleyes: What the f*** is going on? Do you guys think that the players wanted him rather than Coupet or Domenech is just an idiot?



Buzz heard today on radio : Barthez was chosen by Zidane, not by Domenech.

[navid90]

if barthez was picked by zidane then dont you think anelka and pires would be in the squad as well? and back to guignol ur right i think that malouda and ribery are both under wiltord, but between them ribery is better than malouda!

[bwiorly]

Buzz heard today on radio : Barthez was chosen by Zidane, not by Domenech.

Not surprising. As I posted in the "Discussion en français" thread, this is IMHO all part of a gentlemen's agreement between "les anciens" and Raymond: I give you Barthez as a starter, but you let me pick the rest of the squad--i.e. you can't impose Pires over Ribery or Anelka over Saha. And, most of all, we all work together as a group to try to win the damn thing! A truce was needed, and a truce we have--and not a bad one I would say. Let's just hope it lasts until July 9. ;)

Of course, the innocent victim is Coupet, who would start for most other WC teams, but gets to sit on the bench with les Bleus. Now, if there were a real difference of talent and ability between the two keepers in favor of Coupet, we'd have a problem... But I just don't see it. Barthez's season might not have been as stellar as Coupet's, but Fabien is still a world-class keeper who (a) usually does well under pressure and (b) doesn't make blunders with les Bleus--which he tends to do more than one would like with his club teams.

Tough to swallow for Greg, I understand, but if the stars line up, it might be the move that takes us far into the tournament.

[navid90]

are zidane and barthez even friends?

[guignol]

Buzz heard today on radio : Barthez was chosen by Zidane, not by Domenech.radio intox? ;) of course, martini, même combat! a guy who would have been happy to clean the boots of OL's keeper coach!

[guignol]

Barthez's season might not have been as stellar as Coupet's, but Fabien is still a world-class keeper who (a) usually does well under pressure and (b) doesn't make blunders with les Bleus... unless you count his last two matches, where he let in more goals than in france's 15 or 20 previous matches...

i'm being cruel about slovakia, but if you claim he was good or even decent against costa rica... :rolleyes:

[Nikogfrog]

As everybody did before me, I was a little upset when hearing the players
"let-see-what-the-stars-say" Raymond shortlisted for the WC.

I do think Coupet deserved to be picked as No1 over Barthez. There is no question that Coupet achieved better this season, notwithstanding the fact his behaviour has been examplary overall. Domenech justified his choice argueing Barthez had more experience of WC matches. I have the feeling his pick was meant to satisfy some other key players like Thuram or Zidane, thinking that choosing Coupet as No 1 would have upset them and altered their motivation. In fact, I am convinced that Domenech has turned down players because of their strong personality and that it would bring about some negative and counterproductive feelings within the team.

IMO Domenech wanted highly motivated and (of course) skilled players ready to be used as substitutes. Anelka and Pires have expressed their discontent of not being first choice in the eyes of the previous French coaches and this is why they have not been picked. Raymundo has tried to avoid tension within the group. and yes, I think he must have tried to read what the stars say...:rolleyes:

The thing is I still don't understand why he didn't pick Giuly instead of Dorahsoo. He may have favour polyvalence because Vikash can play in nearly every position but giuly is a top classs player at the moment and should prove it tonight. (Actually Giuly is a taurus and cannot get on with sagitarrius...)And of course, he chose Ribery because he's young, talented and he will not argue or compete with the other players. His motivation should hopefully have an influence on the rest of the team.

[Metropolitan]

Barthez's season might not have been as stellar as Coupet's, but Fabien is still a world-class keeper who (a) usually does well under pressure and (b) doesn't make blunders with les Bleus--which he tends to do more than one would like with his club teams.The thing is that the experience of Barthez is getting very old. In which games Barthez have been under pressure this season ?

The game against Zenith St Petersburg in UEFA Cup and the game against PSG in Coupe de France's final ? It's true that Barthez has been especially great in both games...


Once again, we see perfectly in here the difference between a really experienced national selection, Germany, and another one which have less, France. If Kahn and Lehman were French, there would be tons of great "analysts" saying Kahn should be the keeper because of his fabulous experience, but in Germany, Klinsmann didn't hesitate to put him aside and few people are contradicting his choice. I believe Klinsmann did the right choice in choosing Lehman, for the same reasons Coupet should have been picked for France.

Furthermore, we should also prepare the future. In choosing Coupet for the World Cup, he could have continued untill the Euro 2008, giving the time for a new goalie, probably Landreau, to become the next French squad #1 keeper. It would have been smarter I believe.

Finally, the rumours saying that Barthez have blackmailed Domenech in saying he wouldn't go to Germany if it was to be #2 doesn't contribute to improve his image. I'm getting really sick of that guy's behaviour.

[KUBI_nu11]

Finally, the rumours saying that Barthez have blackmailed Domenech in saying he wouldn't go to Germany if it was to be #2 doesn't contribute to improve his image. I'm getting really sick of that guy's behaviour.

I really don' t blame you!

[sl7vk]

The problem is that Barthez has always been an ultra athletic keeper. I mean in his prime his verticle jump was like 42 cm!>!!<!<!> But at his age..... Those skills have deminished, his reflexes have dulled. Coupet is more of a position and hands goalie, who ages better then these reflex keepers.

[lefutur]

And of course, he chose Ribery because he's young, talented and he will not argue or compete with the other players. His motivation should hopefully have an influence on the rest of the team.

See I think this is the key reason to have Ribery in the side. What France lacked in the last WC (besides a healthy Zidane) was some young threatening upstarts to keep the veterans on their toes and instill a bit of competition within the squad. The team was just too 'comfortable'.

Ribery won't have an ego. But he will play with FIRE, that's for certain and this team definately needs a kick in the arse every now and then for them to play at their full potential.

[Nanbawan]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/nanbawan/barthez_target.jpg

Please, I beg you, don't kill me !

FINISH HIM ! :mad:





:rolleyes:

[navid90]

does anyone know of any know coupets reaction to any of this?

[Nanbawan]

does anyone know of any know coupets reaction to any of this?

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5607674

[Pierre-Henri]

I hate the idea of players chosing among themselves : take my buddy or I don't play, choose me or I don't go. This kind of behaviour sucks form A to Z. Players with such unprofessionnal behaviour should be sacked without remorse.

If Coupet is n°1, don't tell me a team like France absolutely needs Barthez as a n°2. Landreau and Ramé are good enough for benchwarming. Our players pool is excellent, we don't have to obey blackmail from last century superstars.

And yes (please don't insult me), that includes Zidane. He's a top notch player, I agree. But if we have to choose between a top-notch player and a 100% operative teamwork, we must prefer the teamwork.

The coach coaches, the players play. Everything else is a direct road to failure.

[guignol]

The coach coaches, the players play. Everything else is a direct road to failure.on my level that's no problem, the hard part is "the parents shut up and watch" :p

the fox version of coupet's reaction is very good. a lot of reports make him out to be a hair trigger away from going postal :rolleyes:

he'll be OK if fabien shows him a little compassion, greg's about the most standup guy you can imagine.

[mookhead]

No Giuly! I can't say I'm a big fan of Les Blues, but I would be disipointed if I was. With out him, is this the best team they can put on the field? I don't think so. He provides speed down the flanks and is also a scoring threat.