Le 26 Mars France v Angleterre [R]

[thegreatcrab]

The millennium (dating from Hastings) old feud between the English and French enters its next stage! The match, although a friendly, should not be taken lightly, they are out for blood and to prove themselves. That and we need revenge for the Rugby loss last year.

http://www.lclark.edu/~campion/hist328/1-lion.jpg
The lion

VS.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/images/pp_fra_14.jpg
le coq

You know that rooster would win in a fight.

For US viewers:
http://www.livesoccertv.com/France-vs-England-soccer-31728.php

4PM Eastern time. I hope you can find a pub thats showing the game because its on Setanta Premium.


ON LES AURA!

[squidward123]

England is not a sufficient warmup for Romania

[Nanbawan]

I'd still not be very surprised if they beat Les Bleus. But we know that the stakes are not exactly the same here. France players will try to avoid injuries and get a good prep, pride might come a distant second. That said, psychologically, beating les rosbifs is good for the mind ! ;)

[lefutur]

benzema was injured today versus psg. so he'll probably be out against england. no saha either so the starters have to be henry and anelka, neither of which are playing very well in their respective clubs.

domenech is so stupid to leave trezeguet out. :(

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

On the plus side, Anelka actually did set up Drogba's winner and Briand wasn't bad today.

Of course Trez deserves to be in the squad though, but with Domenech, the only guy he's ahead of on the list is Giuly. :(

[N. Platini]

I've never ever said this before but I hope we lose , then if there's a miracle MAYBE just MAYBE Domenech realises our tatics and starting 11 isn't good enough and changes needs to be made .

Even better he gets sacked .

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

But now, Trezeguet's back! :)

(Although my opinion's the same on Domenech, it's good to see that he doesn't have Piquionne ahead of Trez on the depth chart.)

[squidward123]

England is not a sufficient warmup for Romania

England is not sufficient proof for Domenech that Trez can do it at this level :D

[lefutur]

wow its true. im stunned. lol

http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKL2318678220080323

one day it would be nice to see benzema and trezeguet play together...something tells me they would hit it off.

[JediMindTricks]

same here. i thought it was a joke that trez was called up.

[jpg75]

So the game starts at 9pm CET or 4pm EDT...France wins, no doubts from this guy...

[HomeatHighbury]

Allllllllllllllez lessssssssss Bleusssssssssss :D

[AfrcnHrbMan]

ON VA GAGNER!!!

Let's hope Trez gets the start today. Though he does only have 1 goal in the last 9 games hes played for the "white blacks". :p

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

As much as I want to be optimistic about this match, England have a bit more to play for and they have less of their squad injured. While it's hard to see them winning, I think a draw is a likely result. I hope, though, that Mexès, Trez and Malouda put in good showings to answer Domenech/critics who may doubt them.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Malouda has been absent in Chelsea's makeup lately, I'd be very surprised if he started, but it is Domenech after all.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Well neither has Thuram yet I think we all expect Domenech to start him, no?

[thegreatcrab]

Woo I'm pumped!

Its rare I get this pumped for a friendly. But then again, it is against the English.

Lets get 'em back for Trafalgar :-).


Oh and Guignol if you want to put an R in the thread title that'd be cool. I forgot to.

[Inara]

Oh and Guignol if you want to put an R in the thread title that'd be cool. I forgot to.

R is added.


I'm thinking we'll see this:

Coupet
Clerc - Gallas - Thuram - Abidal
Ribery - Toulalan - Makelele - Malouda
Anelka - Trezeguet

Though I would rather see Govou than Malouda and Mexes instead of Thuram.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

I think that's the lineup we'll see as well. I too, though, would hope that Mexès is in. Not that I think it'll happen, but I'd be somewhat interested to see what would happen if Domenech somehow decided to include Evra into the starting lineup. I know that Gallas hates being at right (or left) back, though does Evra-Abidal-Mexès-Gallas appeal to anyone else? I mean I suppose the weakness there is that Gallas isn't that well suited at right back and he has no idea how to cross, though Ribéry these days does not really require anyone backing up behind him on the flank. In any event, despite my acknowledgment that he's improved significantly this season, I'm not sold on Clerc as worthy of a starting position.

Anyway, does anyone know who is starting at right back for the Brits?

[navid90]

team sheets announced:

France:

Coupet
Squillaci
Gallas
Thuram
Abidal
Makalele
L. Diarra
Ribery
Malouda
Cisse
Anelka

England:

James
Brown
Terry
Ferdinand
Cole
Beckham
Gerrard
Lampard
Cole
Rooney
Owen