Who are France's next generation?

[guignol]

Also, I've been wanting to find out: Is Aime Jacquet willing to ever coach again?i think he's coaching the varieté all stars.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

really? they've (and more specifically Ben Arfa) been part of our victorious u-21 squad, so I don't see why not.


I mean I doubt they would play for anyone else if France wanted them to play on our side.

[Herm]

Making a younger team doesn't mean making an u21 team. :)

In my view,
GK: Coupet, Frey, Landreau
Def: Sagnol, Reveillere, Mexes, Planus, Givet, Zubar, Squillaci, Abidal, Silvestre
Mid: Giuly, Mavuba, Toulalan, A. Diarra, Gourcuff (need to see his next season), Malouda, Ribery and more
Forw: Henry, Trezeguet, Anelka, Saha, Gouffran (still too much unexperimented)

Sounds like a good base and i might forget some. I'm not afraid of the future to be honest.

[blackjack]

Ribery, Toulalan, Clerc, Nasri, Sinama-Pongolle, and Lassana Diarra are all players that stand out in my mind that could make up part of the "next generation."

[navid90]

2008

Landereau

Reveillere Mexes Squillaci Abidal

Ribery Pedretti Mavuba Malouda

Saha cisse

subs:
Sinama Pongolle
Menez
Gourcuff
Givet
Chimbonda
A. Diarra
Frey

[guignol]

chimbonda is already 27...

benzema is my favorite to be the hottest thing in blue by 2010. he has the talent and the setting to nurture it.

[Gnafron]

chimbonda is already 27...

Benzema is my favorite to be the hottest thing in blue by 2010. he has the talent and the setting to nurture it.

I agree, let's hope Karim will get to the Euro 2008 before that.

Toulalan + Mavuba + Ribéry are on their way to the A team for that same Euro.

[Redemptionette]

Zidane, Thuram and Vieira will all be out of the national team at the end of this world cup, because of their age. I think it would be good if Makelele would stay a bit in the first qualifying games to make a transition, but he'll never play the Euro 2008.

I would hope Vieira would keep playing because he just turned 30 and is really solid. Has he even talked about retiring? I was hoping he would stay to the next World Cup and be the captain. Makelele is 3 years older and already retired/came-back-because-of-Zidane so he is most likely retiring before Vieira.

I like France's mixture of old vs. new (but without Cisse there isn't isn't much "new"....) and I think in the World Cup especially, you have to have the old. Perfect example: Tevez trying to dribble the keeper and 2 defenders but missing the shot while Ronaldo and Zidane were able to keep possession and score.

[Redemption]

Yeah I aggree. Vieira will surely be on for the Euro 2008, 32 is a good age for an experienced midfielder and captain. Look at Makelele how great he is doing out there. Joaquim is still looking for the ball...

I think Toulalan Mavuba Pedretti A. Diarra Flamini are the natural next generation of defensive midfields. With the "Vieira-enforcer" role for Flamini of course.
Mexes, Boumsong, Squilacci, Givet, Clement (for Sagnol) Zubar seem to be the next defenders. Who on the left besides Abidal ? Clichy from Arsenal ?
Offensive midfields :Ribery of course. Then the usual "next Zidane" kids: Mourad Mehni, Samir Nasri, Ben Arfa... They all were kind of disappointing though. Oh I forgot Yohan Gourcuff. He is really good. Hope he will play for Milan AC and not just sit on the bench.
Attaquants ? Pfffffffff, hard. Besides Cisse, Saha, Govou... I don't quite see who can take over yet. Benzema ? He still has a looooooooooooooong way to go. Menez ? Same.

[Ribo_2006]

What's wrong with Sagnol? He's a quality player and damn fast. If he can keep in peak shape and not lose to much pace, come the next world cup, then i'd keep him Rb no qualms. He'll onlly be 31/32.

[Highway Penguin]

Abou Diaby has impressed me a lot in his few apperances with Arsenal. Faty has been solid for the U-21 team and their captain, so he'll surely be up there in 2008 and 2010.

Frey
Sagnol - Mexes - Faty - Abidal
Ribery - A. Diaby - Flamini - Malouda
Cisse - Saha

Makelele should definately stick around for the Euro campaign, along with players like Giuly, Henry, Trezeguet, Gallas, etc.

[sl7vk]

Who's France next generation? Who cares at this point! :)

Time to win now baby!

[BenP]

So who retires now? Obviously, and under weird and unfortunate circumstances, Zidane. He'd probably receive a long ban anyway - perhaps 9 months. Who else? Wiltord, Makelele, Thuram, and Barthez, I expect.

This Euro '08 campaign which begins in less than 2 months (!) should be interesting.

[navid90]

has barthez ever said he'd retire after this wc?

[jlscrub]

has barthez ever said he'd retire after this wc?

he should...if France had a difinite weak spot it was this dude.

[ilv2]

he should...if France had a difinite weak spot it was this dude.

we were so busy criticizing his skills when his height ended up being the biggest problem - i know he always saves penalties like this but it seems counterintuitive for a short gk try to emphasize his shortness by scrunching up even further during penalties. :p

either way though, the italians definately knew how to put them away. too bad trez couldn't get that bit of luck

[jlscrub]

we were so busy criticizing his skills when his height ended up being the biggest problem - i know he always saves penalties like this but it seems counterintuitive for a short gk try to emphasize his shortness by scrunching up even further during penalties. :p

either way though, the italians definately knew how to put them away. too bad trez couldn't get that bit of luck

Barthez did make that stop in 98 i beleive...

But your right on the money...at first i was mad because i thought he was only giving half an effort on his dives, but later it showed that he dove all out... At least one of the goals (shooter #2) would have been blocked say if a Jao Ricardo was in net...

It was poetic justice, that the one player who criticized Domenech during the WC, is the one to let the team down the most... Trezzy went down a notch in my book, I see why my French mate hated him so.

[navid90]

barthez is taller than coupet and the same height as landreau so he was our best goalkeeper

[Hexenmeister]

barthez is taller than coupet and the same height as landreau so he was our best goalkeeper

Height alone doesn't make a good keeper.

Personally, I think Frey needs to be given more opportunities. He looked very good for Fiorentina before he was injured last season. Plus, he's taller than all three of those guys. :)

[guignol]

manute bol is the only man for the job. not only does he have goalkeeping experience (ice hockey) but he's tall from tall city! and since he's african he's a perfect choice for the french NT! ;)