Euro pre-list: 30 players !

[JediMindTricks]

Benzema, dangerous ? Do you really mean that ? He scored 3 goals in 11 selections... including 2 against the Feroe Islands (6-0), and 1 against Austria for a friendly game !
Trezeguet has been fired for less than that !

there's more to it than raw numbers though.

really, how many goals has henry scored for france in the past year? it's not like he's been lighting it up either.

in the colombia game, the two didn't look bad. given that henry's an automatic starter, it makes sense to play benzema, who's a bit more versatile than anelka.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

If you have been watching benzema play in the last few friendlies instead of reading number s off a website, you would understand why he's going to start for les bleus, and Trez is home watching it on tv.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Despite my agreeing on Benzema, Trez does deserve to be in the team, I think. :p

In any event, Benzema shouldn't be above criticism, though really, there isn't much to criticize as he's certainly been visible and has actually touched the ball quite often, something that Trez didn't do in some of his appearances.

On the other hand, I think one can argue that Trez would have put away that one goalmouth opportunity, whereas Benzema didn't, but on the other hand, given Benzema has better speed that Trez, one can argue the defender could have caught up had Trez gotten that opportunity.

So would Benzema be able to improve? Of course he will, although as everyone has stated, we can't measure goals as his only contributions.

[squidward123]

I am a huge supporter of Trezeguet and am angry he's not in the team, though in Benzema's defense, I believe that the majority of his appearnces in Bleu have been as substitutes. He's really only been in the starting XI consistently in these friendlies now, and not before that. I don't think there's any question about his ability to get it done in big matches, though, as he scored a big goal in the home leg against MU in the CL, as well as many goals in elimination cup games to help his club achieve the double.

germany and france seem to have the exact same situations with one certain starter and partner with the same recent track record and appearances with club and NT - benzema and gomez

as well, the certain starters have been the ones in poorer form this past year for their clubs

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Very good observation, old buddy, that's what I had been thinking as well. Although will Gomez start or will it be Podolski who starts with Klose because of their rapport?

I had to admit Gomez had a very big season, as did Karim, but I happen to like Benzema better. :p

Although I wouldn't worry too much about Klose, he tends to do well in the spotlight.

[squidward123]

Very good observation, old buddy, that's what I had been thinking as well. Although will Gomez start or will it be Podolski who starts with Klose because of their rapport?

I had to admit Gomez had a very big season, as did Karim, but I happen to like Benzema better. :p

Although I wouldn't worry too much about Klose, he tends to do well in the spotlight.

i think gomez will start and podolski will play in left midfield as he has been playing in training and also v/s serbia (borowski or schweinsteiger on the right - hopefully not schweinsteiger as borowski is defensively stronger and more consistent/big match mentality than that overrated bum)

this is a very offensive formation and I like it, because podolski is nowhere near the finisher that gomez is but is pretty good with the ball at his feet and at creating problems from midfield. basically the team needs that quality with schneider out. except podolski is not the smart defender that schneider was - so it's going to be a gung-ho formation given that the two central midfielders are pretty good in offense.

klose likes not having the limelight so he is fine.

I am expecting a huge tournament from ribery. He could turn out to be everywhere.

[lefutur]

I am expecting a huge tournament from ribery. He could turn out to be everywhere.

He picked an ankle injury in training, but i dont think its too serious.

[squidward123]

He picked an ankle injury in training, but i dont think its too serious.

he will be ok

i hope he does really well. Some chelsea forum posters ridiculed me for saying ribery is a better playmaker than joe cole! :confused:

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Joe who? :D Didn't I see him on the squad list for the final of some tournament? Did he actually play in that game? If he did, I certainly didn't see him. :p

[JediMindTricks]

he's the short guy that kept ending up on the ground.

can't blame you if you did miss him.

[squidward123]

ribery is probably france's best player so i didn't think it was unreasonable to say he is better a playmaker than joe cole...

but anyway

[squidward123]

is there no match thread for the romania game?

[MicFW]

Just wanted to stop by and say bonne chance les bleus! :)
I'm stating the obvious here, but you really must beat Romania in order to survive this "group of death".