France v China (June 7) [R]

[jpatel1508]

Not a queston of saving, its a question of playing with 11 instead of 10 (effectively). Ribery would be the best choice, but Wiltord would be acceptable instead of Viera. The fact of the matter is with Viera and Makele in at the same time, France is essentially playing with 10 men and Willy Sagnol is forced to play two positions.

I kind of think it's a lot down to seniority and the coach doesn't have the balls to drop one or the other.
Drop Makalele and keep Vieira there...he's got more ability and can assist in both defending and attacking.

[ibby]

Just from curiousty, how was Henry's performance today?

[ilv2]

The tackle was pretty tame. Cisse broke his leg because once again he didn't control how he put down his foot. Blaming this on the defender is just downright wrong...

what? ok, cisse might run "improperly" but please, the defender kicks him the back of the leg while the ball is not even close.

[RemiNL]

Domenech is really going to regret pissing Giuly off now. :mad:

[BenP]

Just from curiousty, how was Henry's performance today?

Decent, not spectacular. Had a few good chances. Scored a deceptively difficult goal from about 35 metres with the Chinese goalie out and several defenders in the way. I'd rate him a 6 out of 10. Again, I think it comes down to the partnership. With Saha or Wiltord, he just looks more dangerous.

[BenP]

I kind of think it's a lot down to seniority and the coach doesn't have the balls to drop one or the other.
Drop Makalele and keep Vieira there...he's got more ability and can assist in both defending and attacking.

Perhaps. Domenech could be the downfall yet. You pick the players who give you the most chance to win. Not those who play for the biggest clubs or make the biggest salaries. If a coach can't do that, he should resign.

[Nanbawan]

I agree with ilv2 on Ribéry, he doesn't have to bea starter at all cost, his role as a supersub make me think of Wiltord a few years ago. YET, he should have started in one of the preparation matches, just to check how he copes with it. It's obvious that France was playing with the handbrakes on (and they just had a pretty good incentive to do so) but credits to China that applied the perfect minnows tactic and were very disciplined if not very brilliant. Don't be fooled, there are a lot of 'small' NTs that play like that to disrupt a more prestigious opposition.

Having said that, tactically something bugs me. Will Ray have the balls to drop his looney idea of putting Vieira on the right ? Either we play with two def.mids and one striker or the opposite but not the solution he came out with.

[ibby]

Decent, not spectacular. Had a few good chances. Scored a deceptively difficult goal from about 35 metres with the Chinese goalie out and several defenders in the way. I'd rate him a 6 out of 10. Again, I think it comes down to the partnership. With Saha or Wiltord, he just looks more dangerous.
I metioned that earlier, for France he is for effective without Trez or Cisse their and if u want to win the whole thing you need Titi to be at his best, he is as important to "Les Blues" as Ronaldinho is to Brazil.

[BenP]

I agree with ilv2 on Ribéry, he doesn't have to bea starter at all cost, his role as a supersub make me think of Wiltord a few years ago. YET, he should have started in one of the preparation matches, just to check how he copes with it. It's obvious that France was playing with the handbrakes on (and they just had a pretty good incentive to do so) but credits to China that applied the perfect minnows tactic and were very disciplined if not very brilliant. Don't be fooled, there are a lot of 'small' NTs that play like that to disrupt a more prestigious opposition.

Having said that, tactically something bugs me. Will Ray have the balls to drop his looney idea of putting Vieira on the right ? Either we play with two def.mids and one striker or the opposite but not the solution he came out with.

Pretty much agree. The problem wasn't that they essentially scraped a win out against China. The result doesn't matter.

The main problem is whether Domenech insists on playing Viera and Mak. together. With that formation, France basically chooses to play with 10 men - and force Willy Sagnol to play two positions.

[BenP]

That said, I'd be fine with just one striker as well, playing say Wiltord as an attacking midfielder and leaving Viera and Makelele both in. That'd be a defensive formation, but at the very least it would make it very hard not qualify easily from a weak group. Continue to use Ribery as a sub when other teams tire. Thats a strategy.

[Nanbawan]

what? ok, cisse might run "improperly" but please, the defender kicks him the back of the leg while the ball is not even close.

Yes, but IMO there was nothing malicious or brutal in his tackle. It's not really Djibril's fault either, their legs were badly mingled and Cissé really has some problem with his shin bone. Really sorry for him, they might have the millions but they also play to participate in such events. He's done so much to reach this point. :(


Oh, and the MFs who rejoice about Cissé breaking can rot in Hell and suck Satan's dick, that might make them useful to something for a change...Loser !

[Nikogfrog]

What fun would that be? Besides if you can't insult a guy who makes millions of pounds a year just for playing footie and coloring his hair who can you insult?

Your argument makes no sense . There isn't any single excuse for insulting anyone except if they happen to hurt you. This is foolish and immature behaviour and nothing else. What if YOU experienced the same injury???

Regarding the situation, I think Domenech is about to spend a couple of sleepless nights, and it will be all because of his contemptuous lack of communication skill. Nevertheless, he seems to have a couple of options only :Anelka or Giuly, and even though they were hurt by Domenech's scorn, they won't turn him down. Unless he picks an under 21 player.

Anyway, as most of you do, I definetely think he should try Ribery as a starter. After waht he showed in the last three matches, I can't see how Marseille will keep him in their squad.

What worries me is Viera's inability to find his place in this team. It's a pity, he's just such a tremendous back midfield player. He was good when he played (at times) right in the middle tonight but they were too many people there (Malouda at times, Makelle of couse, Zidane at times...) and the right flank was too often deserted, except when Zidane played with Sagnol. The midfield was outplayed again today, partly because Zidane decided to play a little bit everywhere (which was not that bad actually) but mainly because of Viera's unnatural position. As a consequence of all that, we saw too much unfruitful long passing coming from the back lines.

What do you think could be the solution?: Do you think Domench is going to keep him in this position? Should he try Dorhassoo or Ribery only instead and Makelele as the only BM? The French team needs two BMs imo but only Makelele is comfortable on the pitch at the moment...

[Gnafron]

He had the left leg injured against Blackburn and tonight it's the right one…there's nothing here except bad luck…

[BenP]

What do you think could be the solution?: Do you think Domench is going to keep him in this position? Should he try Dorhassoo or Ribery only instead and Makelele as the only BM? The French team needs two BMs imo but only Makelele is comfortable on the pitch at the moment...

I don't what Domenech is going to do, but if you think 2 back midfielders is important, I would play with Henry as the loner striker and bring in Wiltord or Ribery as an attacking right midfielder.

Its really quite simple why they struggled in midfield - they didn't have anyone playing on the right. And Zidane's move there late in the game did not mask the problem. It was only after he brought on Wiltord and Ribery - way too late, in my opinion - that they started to play better. The answer is very simple - I just hope Domenech has the sense to see the problems and fix them. Someone managing a major footballing nation's national side should be able to do what is quite obvious to many people on a board like this - we shall see . . .

[ilv2]

well, whoever said tactics was domenech's strong point? :(

as for strikers, i'm in favor of a 4-5-1 w/ henry starting unless domenech resolves his stupid vieira experiment. In which case, saha should be put in as a strike partner. Trezeguet was (yes even if he scored a goal) nul, and didn't bring anything very positive to the attack. Other than that it wasn't a terrible performance, the defense was good as usual excepting the penalty.

domenech's checklist should therefore be:
1) get a brain 2) reform the right side of the formation
if he can do that, then i think everything will resolve itself.

[ilv2]

Yes, but IMO there was nothing malicious or brutal in his tackle. It's not really Djibril's fault either, their legs were badly mingled and Cissé really has some problem with his shin bone. Really sorry for him, they might have the millions but they also play to participate in such events. He's done so much to reach this point. :( !

oh no, i'm not saying that the chinese defender did it expres, but it's still a horrible tackle anyways.

i agree, even though he's young, Cisse got his chance and now b/c of this he won't be able to play. really really unfortunate. :(

[Nanbawan]

Trezeguet was (yes even if he scored a goal) nul, and didn't bring anything very positive to the attack.

That's Domenech's fault ! :D Only half kidding. To fully exploit a guy like Trez, you need to adjust the way the team plays for him, not dramatically but significantly. You don't drive a Ferrari like you do for a Twingo ! :p

[astroboy]

I'm sorry Cisse won't be playing; it's obviously terrible to miss out on the WC (and it also makes his future hard to read--presumably he won't be leaving Liverpool for a while)...

but... I always thought he was the least valuable of the offensive options. If they can find Giuly (in Australia, apparently) and/or settle on a 3 man front with Henry in the middle--well, I think the impact on the team may be positive...

although psychologically il va falloir digerer. I think Cisse is well-liked by the other players... maybe "do it for djibril!" will become a rallying cry??

[ilv2]

That's Domenech's fault ! :D Only half kidding. To fully exploit a guy like Trez, you need to adjust the way the team plays for him, not dramatically but significantly. You don't drive a Ferrari like you do for a Twingo ! :p

true. Juventus is able to achieve that with him, but the point is that Domenech hasn't during all his time here and it looks as though he'll never arrive at understanding how to play Trezeguet.

[lefutur]

Football - 07/06/2006 - 23:56
Cissé opéré
L'attaquant de l'équipe de France, Djibril Cissé, touché à la jambe droite face à la Chine, est en train de se faire opérer à Saint-Etienne