France v China (June 7) [R]

[lefutur]

Les Bleus will face China in St Etienne for their last preparation for the WC.

Will Ribery start? Will Henry continue his great form for France and become the new leader for the team? Will Zidane find his old form just in time for Germany?

Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more as the culinary superpower of the world faces off against the nation that mastered the art of breeding!

[ilv2]

i have the feeling that domenech will give coupet the start - which is frankly is useless move, considering it's china.

[awmhamodat]

i have the feeling that domenech will give coupet the start - which is frankly is useless move, considering it's china.
dun think so.I think this is the game were hes using his best 11 in wc on jun 13th.So barthez is starting.But as much as I want ribery to start, I think he isn't going to start.Vieria has to play .Which sucks.

[Pierre-Henri]

What I fear the most is their defensive tactic.

http://garrafive.dehumanizer.com/wp-content/ShaolinBarricadeShield.jpg

[allezlesbleusno1]

Let's hope that we avoid injuries in this last friendly. Look at what happened to the Netherlands, they went to play Australia in a friendly and came out with 3 injuries!

[Metropolitan]

Let's hope that we avoid injuries in this last friendly. Look at what happened to the Netherlands, they went to play Australia in a friendly and came out with 3 injuries!Well, Australians are well-known wolrdwide for their fighting spirit. After all, they have a boxing kanguru as mascot. ;)

More seriously speaking, China might play dirty, but they won't play the World Cup so they have absolutely no interest to "destroy" a team. If anything gets dirty, I hope Domenech will be enough cautious to put substitutes on the field in order to preserve at least key players.

[lefutur]

What I fear the most is their defensive tactic.

http://garrafive.dehumanizer.com/wp-content/ShaolinBarricadeShield.jpg


don't laugh. those 2 guys on the top are about to fly up about 20 feet and pivet 180 degrees in slow motion.

[sl7vk]

Trezegone?!?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370127&root=worldcup&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1&cc=5901

[awmhamodat]

Trezegone?!?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370127&root=worldcup&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1&cc=5901
If thats true then im happy.In all honesty , I hope saha playswith henry.Whats important is the team.I like trez , but I like france more and I think saha henry is better link up.

[Grell]

I can't believe what I'm reading here. Trezeguet is an excellent player and is truly capable of putting the ball in the net. This is lunacy if he doesn't start.

Regards,

Grell

[Metropolitan]

I can't believe what I'm reading here. Trezeguet is an excellent player and is truly capable of putting the ball in the net. This is lunacy if he doesn't start.

Regards,

GrellWell, of course he can. Trezeguet is the fox of the penalty area, you give him the ball there and you're sure he will score. The only problem he has is that he doesn't really touch the ball outside of this area. Trezeguet is a very talented player, no one denies that, however, I'm not sure France is currently organized in such a system where he is really that efficient.

As awmhamodat already said, I love Trezeguet but I also love France, and I want France to win. I think Trezeguet would be more dangerous as a key substitute than as a starter. However, I disagree about Saha. I believe we need more someone like Ribery or Wiltord on the right wing. Once again, I have nothing against Saha but we really need someone on the right side.

[ilv2]

I can't believe what I'm reading here. Trezeguet is an excellent player and is truly capable of putting the ball in the net. This is lunacy if he doesn't start.

you forgot to add in "with juventus".


Astrofreak reveals his starting eleven for the friendly against China

Barthez - Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal - Vieira, Makelele, Zidane (cap), F.Malouda - Henry, D.Cissé

http://www.football365.fr/la_une/index.shtml

as pointed out, he was going to use his strongest 11 for this match - the squad looks pretty standard w/ the exception of cisse, who IMO does not merit the starting position at all.

[awmhamodat]

you forgot to add in "with juventus".


Astrofreak reveals his starting eleven for the friendly against China

Barthez - Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal - Vieira, Makelele, Zidane (cap), F.Malouda - Henry, D.Cissé

http://www.football365.fr/la_une/index.shtml

as pointed out, he was going to use his strongest 11 for this match - the squad looks pretty standard w/ the exception of cisse, who IMO does not merit the starting position at all.
man just read this on eurosports.Im pretty pissed.If this is the line up hes playing , then were ********ed.I dun like it at all.No ribery , no saha and still makele and vieira.We'll have a hard time scoring in germany.You'll see

[ilv2]

maka and vieira were always going to be in the starting lineup. Domenech is basing his squad upon a defensive base, and what better way to ensure that you don't geet scored on than to place two gifted dm's in front of an already capable defense. Now, as you pointed out, you don't exactly score bagfuls of goals with this set-up, but I have confidence in the offensive options already available. However, Cisse poses a dilemma, as one needs a nuanced attack capable of setting up chances, playing through balls, and going on intelligent runs. Cisse.... doesn't do that. Saha does, and that's where I agree most strongly with your criticism. Yes, Cisse set up Malouda against Mexico, but a player and his potential for the team cannot be whittled down like that - his game is en fin de compte insufficient.

as for ribery, he was never going to be a starter. Perhaps in a 4-5-1, but astrofreak prefers two strikers.

[allezlesbleusno1]

Cisse is not the guaranteed starter according to L'Equipe. But the rest of the field is pretty accurate in terms of who will start against Switzerland. Seems like the coach is still trying to gauge who he will start with Henry up front. I, like everyone else, like Saha to partner with Henry. Ribery has been brilliant in his limited time on the field, but it seems Domenech wants him as the spark off the bench.

[Grell]

What alarms me is that Trezeguet will not be starting. The man is magical, France needs him to play. All we need is a distraught Trezeguet. Put him where he belongs, he'll proove himself worthy.

Regards,

Grell

[allezlesbleusno1]

I have not counted him out yet. That said Domenech makes some crazy decisions at times. We'll have to see. I don't think Cisse will be starting, so it's either Saha or Trezeguet. He might just have Trezeguet start next week. Crazier things have happened with this man!
What alarms me is that Trezeguet will not be starting. The man is magical, France needs him to play. All we need is a distraught Trezeguet. Put him where he belongs, he'll proove himself worthy.

Regards,

Grell

[Grell]

Yes I sometimes wonder how Domenech got his job. I am a little worried.

Regards,

Grell

[Metropolitan]

Anyone who has actually see France playing will tell you that this is how France naturally plays when we are in 4-4-2 :

----------------- Barthez -----------------
Sagnol -- Thuram -- Gallas -- Abidal
---------- Vieira ----- Makélélé ----------
----------------- Zidane ---- Malouda ---
-------------------------- Henry ------------
----------------- Trezeguet ----------------


As you can see, the big problem in here is that there's absolutely no one on the right side in front of Sagnol.

That's the simple reason why we should get a right winger instead of a second striker. Wiltord or Ribéry would both be fine. Unfortunately, Domenech doesn't want to see that his team is shifting on the left and as a result he will play once again in his awckward 4-4-2 against China. :(

[Grell]

I have nothing against a 4-4-2 myself, it should proove itself fruitful. We shall see I suppose.

Regards,

Grell