What does this season say about the veteran Bleus?

[lefutur]

Eurosport.fr published an article comparing the seasons of France most high profile players and made the declaration that with the exception of Franck Ribery, most of France's 'veterans' either underperformed this season, or didn't get enough playing time (either due to injury or because they were left on the bench).

http://www.eurosport.fr/football/euro-2008/2008/sport_sto1545070.shtml

Henry had a terrible season with Barcelona. He notched only 7 goals and struggled to show himself as the same player that played for Wenger's side in England.

Anelka scored 11 goals and played less under Grant than he did at his previous club. Is the competition at Chelsea helping or hurting him?

Malouda had a really mediocre season and may be starting to regret ever leaving Lyon. He scored only 1 goal this season and played a mere 18 games. The coach trusts Joe Cole more.

Franck Ribery ïs "the only veritable bright spot on the French horizon". He was an inspired player this season and helped his team win the German League Cup. 7 goals and over 2000 minutes of playing time.

Vieira suffered from a lack of minutes and games this season due to repeat injuries. The France captain only played a total of 743 minutes and 12 games.

Did Makélélé play enough this year to warrant a spot in les bleus? He's 35 and only took the field 15 times this season.

Abidal played 37 of a total 50 Barcelona matches this year and was not the regular starter in his position towards the end of the season. Is it good enough or will Evra's title-winning season eclipse him?

Sagnol's injury kept him off the pitch for most of the season. He accrued just 398 minutes while Lyon's François Clerc has been steadily improving.

Thuram was used only intermitently at Barca this season. Does the 36 year old still have the right stuff?

Gallas was criticised for a few blunders this season notably against Birmingham and Chelsea, although he did score 4 goals and played in 28 matches.

Coupet may be coming into form at just the right time. Deprived of playing for much of the early part of the season due to a knee injury, he was the stand-out player against Nancy in Lyon's crucial 1-0 victory. He's played a total of 1260 minutes.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Someone once told me form is temporary, class is permanent, so I'm not too worried. I think Abidal had a better season at Barca than many believe, and that Malouda wasn't as bad as made out in the English tabloids, either. However I am troubled by Thuram, Anelka and it's only been in the past couple of months that I've seen Vieira. The concern arises in that Thuram and Anelka could be selected by Domenech as starters in critical positions. Central defense and striker would basically be what many games are decided on, no? To have those guys in the starting XI (even if they deserve it via their contributions in qualification) at the expense of Mexès or Trez/Benzema is what I'm dreading ahead of this tournament.

Although actually what I've seen, interestingly enough, at U-17 level (I'm been watching the Euro U-17 tournament in which our Bleuets are now in the final), worries me about this French team. I think anyone watching the tournament would agree that our U-17 team has guys who are both physically and technically better than other teams. However, they don't always have the cohesion that they should have as a team, as often the play as individuals or rely on a bit of brilliance from a superstar (in this case, Kakuta) to turn a game. I think it is much the same way with our senior team at the moment, as we have as many outstanding, world class players as any team in the world. Yet we have seen many a game where we dominate yet struggle to get a rhythm, and in the end, we escape on a bit of skill by one of the superstars we have.

I don't mind winning that way, it's only that I hope, given the players we have, that we're able to be the best team out there, as we were in the Zidane/Desailly/Deschamps days. It is that which worries me more than a little about M. Domenech. Though, when it's all said and done, the absolute class that our players have could be enough to bring home the continental title.

[guignol]

Henry had to adapt to a new system, no, a whole new philosophy about football, mose house and deal with a breakup. 7 goals is pretty good considering!and the few times i've seen him play he was excellent, rijkaard and his teammates are wasting his talent.

Anelka we don't need... if he does well it will be a bonus. but if anything his patience with his situation both at bolton and chelsea bodes well rather than ill.

Malouda probably doesn't regret leaving OL since he's in the CL final and very well could play. it's his less that stellar play in his last outings for france that worry me more.

Abidal is still Abidal; for all the great things he does you still have to expect that semiblunder or two a match but the real problem for me is that since he and flo moved on to different pastures they just don't like they did when they played every week together.

Franck Ribery? rien à signaler... that isn't good.

Vieira suffered from a lack of minutes? great. couldn't be better.

Makélélé actually started 18 EPL matches, but also 12 CL matches and it's clear he's saved for the important outings. and for les bleus by the same token.

Thuram was UNDERused at barça this season, yet further proof (with titi) that rijkaard is a horse's ass. if he had done with him what grant did with kéké he'd be liga champ and in the CL final, not two weeks away from the unemployment line.

Sagnol is one of the players we'll miss the least. i've always been a fan, but based on his last outings for france, i'd give the spot to clerc anyway.

Gallas i didn't see play except against liverpool in the CL, but if you're worried about him you need ex-lax.

Coupet is indeed coming into the kind of form that could make a big difference for france. the kind of form that would have made us world champions two years ago with room to spare.

[guignol]

Someone once told me form is temporary, class is permanent, so I'm not too worried.

...our U-17 team has guys who are both physically and technically better than other teams. However, they don't always have the cohesion that they should have as a team [...] I think it is much the same way with our senior team at the moment, as we have as many outstanding, world class players as any team in the world. Yet we have seen many a game where we dominate yet struggle to get a rhythm, and in the end, we escape on a bit of skill by one of the superstars we have.i agree about the class part, and no team has nearly as much as france right now.

a U17 NT is made up of kids whose time together is measured in days, not years, so you can't expect them to play cohesively. in fact the whole purpose of tournaments like this to make like the the little prince's fox: tisser des liens.

as for the old'uns, i've seen their recent matches completely differently: they have phenomenal capability of stringing together passes and movement, a joy to watch, but against an opponent whose three objectives are 1) stay in place 2) stay in place and 3) stay in place, it takes that spark of individual brilliance, that momentary superacceleration, to crack the walnut. recently the only individuals we could count on for it were ribéry and to some extent henry, but others both old and new are capable of it, and our success in the euro will depend on how much pizzazz they deliver.

[lefutur]

You make a good point Guignol, at least the really old guys won't be burned out. And Domenech got his wish with Benzema...a minor injury that gave him some rest towards the end of the season.

[guignol]

yes, the oldsters will be in better end of season shape than they have been for a long time, and they've shown in the recent friendlies that they can deliver 2 good outings in a week even if thet can no longer do 60 in a year.

the euro will be 6 matches over 3 weeks, just the kind of rhythm that should let them show their class to the fullest.

[Inara]

I don't know about you guys, but I have low expectations of Benzema in this tournament. I rather think Henry will be the one lifting the team. Benzema is clearly burnt out, and even with his break, tomorrow will be his 50th game of the season. Last year, he played half that, and the year before, he featured only sporadically. It's easy to forget that he's only 20 years old and doesn't yet have the hardiness and endurance of older players.

[JediMindTricks]

there's always the flip side though.

even though a lot of france's regulars haven't played much or well this season, one could say that they'll be more rested and can only play better.

i think you also have to consider the form of the players towards the end of the season, upcoming friendlies, and going into the tournament.

for instance, henry or malouda may not have played particularly well over the course of the season for whatever reasons, but if they can get a few good league/friendly games in a row into the tournament, i'd gladly accept that.

with the age of some of the key players like thuram, makelele, vieira, etc, i don't think not having played much is necessarily a bad thing. i think dom would welcome that.

now will he just bring in trezeguet!!!!

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Henry was just hitting form at the end of the season and still managed to bag 19 goals in all competitions this. I think we will see something special from him this tourney. Abidal too, I think was a bit underrated as was Anelka's performance at Chelsea. I strongly believe that Grant wasn't giving him enough time. Malouda I really don't have much to comment on as I didn't see him play much this year. If we had a more proven option on the left I'd say sit him, but we don't. Keke has played great in the games I've seen come out. Guingol is right in the fact that they save him for primarily big matches as to not wear him out. He was class against Arsenal, and will play well at his last tournament. I'll always have faith in Thuram. If he thinks he is up to it, that's good enough for me. Though I haven't seen Sagnol play all year, what I've heard out of germany doesn't make me think he warrants a spot on the starting 11 considering how well Clerc has played. Sagna has played them both off the park this year, but he was amazingly left off the squad.