France v China (June 7) [R]

[ibby]

The logical choice would be Anelka or Giuly and they wouldn't miss a chance to play in the "World Cup" just because they didn't get picked first

[ilv2]

henry close there, but no dice.

[ilv2]

The logical choice would be Anelka or Giuly and they wouldn't miss a chance to play in the "World Cup" just because they didn't get picked first

perhaps. but domenech is an idiot and would probably refuse to call them up anyways out of spite.

govou looks like a likely option (lyonnais, ligue 1 etc). fits all of raymond's requirements.

[awmhamodat]

wow sensational pass by zizou.unlucky

[ForeverRed]

they didn't let them cause the player wasn't injured.He got sent back cause of the critism of the coach , he choose him cause he was his son.

Oh ok, so there shouldn't be a problem as to replacing him this soon before the WC kicks off since he is so badly injured.

Question is ...who?

[gaijin]

Maybe Ray will call up Le Tallec? Who knows....

[allezlesbleusno1]

I'm guessing Guily would be the more probable choice. Even if he is on vacation they should have a way to get a reach of him. This is a matter of national security ;-)! I'm sure Chirac is preparing to dispatch a rescue team for Guily lol.

[gaijin]

The logical choice would be Anelka or Giuly and they wouldn't miss a chance to play in the "World Cup" just because they didn't get picked first

Both slagged the coach off in the press after not being picked. I don't think they will be picked.

Yes, it looks like Govou.








Jesus christ.

[ruudgullit]

Penalty miss aside:) . Is Zidane looking any better?

I also would prefer not to see Trez and Henry together in attack, it never has seemed productive on the big stage. Not WC 02 nor Euro 04.Never seems to be a sense of urgency when those two play together. Saha for some reason seems to be a better complement to either one.

[ilv2]

I also would prefer not to see Trez and Henry together in attack, it never has seemed productive on the big stage. Not WC 02 nor Euro 04.Never seems to be a sense of urgency when those two play together. Saha for some reason seems to be a better complement to either one.

right on.

I'm guessing Guily would be the more probable choice. Even if he is on vacation they should have a way to get a reach of him. This is a matter of national security ;-)! I'm sure Chirac is preparing to dispatch a rescue team for Guily lol.

i admire you optimism, but it's more than probable that rather he'll be staying with crocodile dundee in australia.

[Nanbawan]

I take it that's bye bye Cisse for the World Cup.


Horrible. His leg looks so fragile I wonder if he won't need to use some device to protect it if he returns...

Anelka must be kicking himself now.

If he doesn't, I personally feel like doing so, missing such an asset for this kind of bruised ego...Scheisse !

***

China is far from being impressive at both ends of the game but in between they're not that bad. The French announcer rightfully stated that when they played against Switzerland, they were virtually getting out of the plane so we shouldn't rely on that game -that I haven't seen- too much.

Zidane seems to be fit, this particular aspect bodes well for the WC.

[Massimo_Oddo]

Penalty miss aside:) . Is Zidane looking any better?

I also would prefer not to see Trez and Henry together in attack, it never has seemed productive on the big stage. Not WC 02 nor Euro 04.Never seems to be a sense of urgency when those two play together. Saha for some reason seems to be a better complement to either one.

In WC02 they only really played one game together, and were very unlucky, both hitting the woodwork. Henry got himself sent off in the next match.

Euro04, fair enough it didnt work out, though that doesnt mean it will never work.

Both are world class strikers who have fantasitic seasons. It would be crminal to drop 1.

[BenP]

Penalty miss aside:) . Is Zidane looking any better?
.

Yes, he actually is playing a bit better. He delivered a dynamite pass to Henry that almost resulted in a goal.

In general, the INDIVIDUAL players are playing well, but I still think the formation is not optimal. China's basically playing 11 men behind the half way line, though.

[210597]

On Eurosport just now here in Germany, it was said that it is apparently confirmed now that Cisse has a fractured shin. Surely that'll be a blow to France, just awful to see something like that days before a World Cup.

[Pierre-Henri]

Again, if someone could explain to me the point of this match? Why not schedule a Nigeria or a Cameroon for this type of outing?

China = Big Market. Good for business.
Nigeria, Cameroon = no cash in the pot.

It is completely stupid to do such a game just before the WC. Fatigue, injuries, vs a team that will play at 100 %. Since China doesn't play the world cup, they have nothing to lose. For us, it's a warm up only. For them, it's an essential game. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Exactly the same mistakes than in 2002, when Zidane was injured.

And Cissé : broken leg. Second time in less than 2 years. Jinxed.

[ilv2]

Both are world class strikers who have fantasitic seasons. It would be crminal to drop 1.

you're forgetting the wc qualifying matches.

[Fevernova99]

Again, if someone could explain to me the point of this match? Why not schedule a Nigeria or a Cameroon for this type of outing?

To beat up on a weak team to boost confidence ahead of the tournment. Same way a lot of other teams did it - Brazil, Australia (today), Trindad, Togo, Portugal. Why they picked China I have no clue - China plays rough.

[Grell]

In WC02 they only really played one game together, and were very unlucky, both hitting the woodwork. Henry got himself sent off in the next match.

Euro04, fair enough it didnt work out, though that doesnt mean it will never work.

Both are world class strikers who have fantasitic seasons. It would be crminal to drop 1.

Well said Massimo.

Regards,

Grell

[K:theCore]

Thats terrible regarding Cisse....I was looking forward to watching him play.

I told some of you in the Group G forum that something like this might happen. Korea's best striker, Hwang SH, was knocked out from cup play during a heated friendly just prior to 98.

[ilv2]

to those who were using the tv5monde stream, is it still working for you?