French National Team: the Future

[Chosen Lord]

I'm surprised these guys don't do much much better. Given the amount of talent they have on that team it's nothing short of shocking that they don't play somewhere near Spain's level. Benzema, Anelka, Henry, Gourcuff, Diarra, Toulalan, Nasri, Ribery, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, etc. I would say on paper they are similar to Spain. But coaching and team chemistry is everything. I would like to give Gomis a shot too. I really like his game.

[StarrMatthieu]

Lassana Diarra is the hardest working kid in french football as far as i know right now! now hes playin REAL MADRID WOW

Karim Benzema is going to work together like......



Zinedine Zidane and


Claude Makélélé did in REAL MADRID !


:rolleyes:
Despite being only 23 years old, Lassana Diarrá is already a very experienced player. The French midfielder arrives at Real Madrid hoping to become the master of its midfield, but his versatility also allows him to play as a right back. He is the second signing the Club has made during the winter transfer window.

The French international has spent most of his career in England. Determined to become a football player, he joined Nantes' youth system as a child and later landed in Le Mans, with whom he played in the French Second Division. The last French side he played for was Le Havre (2003-05).

Chelsea noticed his excellent performances in the French championship and signed him in 2005, making him the youngest player in the club's history. He won the Premiership and a Carling Cup with the Blues. Arsene Wenger signed him for Arsenal, where he remained only half a season before he joined Portsmouth in order to play more. He became one of the best players in the Premiership with the Southern team.

France has produced many excellent midfielders in recent years, such as Marcel Desailly, Patrick Viera and Claude Makelele. Diarrá is the latest to join such an illustrious list because he is strong, solid in defence and covers a large part of the pitch. He is excellent in aerial plays despite not being too tall and he is capable of scoring goals from a distance thanks to a powerful shot. His versatility allows him to play both as a midfielder and as a right back.

A dream come true
"Other teams seem less important once someone mentions Real Madrid," he recently said, "It is my dream to play for such a great club." It seems Lassana can boast of having seen his dream come true.
HONOURS
Carling Cup (Chelsea, 2007)
FA Cup (Chelsea, 2007)
FA Cup (Portsmouth, 2008)

[zizouForlife]

i have no problem with players wanting to play for madrid, but i hate it when everyone calls it their dream to player there. they are other prestigious clubs like milan, juventus, liverpool, man U, bayern.

when was the last RM was dominant in european competition?????????

[guignol]

sure there are others. many in better sailing trim that real madrid right now. but their last period of glory is more recent than juve's or milan's for example. above all, if you visit the bernabeu and see the trophy case it all becomes clear. the others are just wannabees in comparison. i'm no fan myself, i just have to bow to the facts.

[zizouForlife]

as a player why should you care???? its not like you are the one who has won the medals or trophy's. only you contract and the amount of play u have should matter. at the moment there is no difference between Man U and madrid, both are rich and powerful brands, high marketability around the world. players in either club get paid millions, both get the same exposure around the world through their leagues.

yes it is the most prestigious club in the world, and definitely an honor to wear there shirt. but not worth having wet dreams about.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

as a player why should you care???? its not like you are the one who has won the medals or trophy's. only you contract and the amount of play u have should matter. at the moment there is no difference between Man U and madrid, both are rich and powerful brands, high marketability around the world. players in either club get paid millions, both get the same exposure around the world through their leagues.

yes it is the most prestigious club in the world, and definitely an honor to wear there shirt. but not worth having wet dreams about.

here! here! We could concentrate on making our won clubs legendary, but that would be asking too much in these times.

[Nanbawan]

I'm surprised these guys don't do much much better. Given the amount of talent they have on that team it's nothing short of shocking that they don't play somewhere near Spain's level. Benzema, Anelka, Henry, Gourcuff, Diarra, Toulalan, Nasri, Ribery, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, etc. I would say on paper they are similar to Spain. But coaching and team chemistry is everything. I would like to give Gomis a shot too. I really like his game.

There's no use having the best ingredients if you can't cook.

Peter principle has stricken a long time ago as far as Domenech and Escalettes are concerned...

We're witnessing the waste of a great generation. French football is being punished by where it has sinned. Unfortunately, beyond the sheer results, the fragile bond between the French and their NT has also been seriously damaged since not a great deal of people can carry on supporting a bunch of guys perceived as ultimate a-holes...Sorry to say !

Personally, despite the fact that the French NT did go through harder times in the past, I've never felt so distant about it. 10 years after, the decaying corpse of the WC victory does not smell very good. All that happened after the Euro 2008 fiasco really leaves a bad taste in my mouth...That and the fact that such good memories of ten years ago could not really be revived. Dom & co ruined that also ! It's not about the result, it's about the ambiance in and outside the team.

[lefutur]

^^ very good post. I like the cooking analogy.Its so true.

[zizouForlife]

maybe its bad chef

[StarrMatthieu]

Next Zidane’ Feghouli Earns Praise From Grenoble’s Regragui

Walid Regragui of Grenoble has taken time out to enthuse over the club’s prodigious young midfielder, Sofiane Feghouli, who continues to be linked with many of Europe’s top sides.

France have had several players over the last few seasons unfortunate enough to be burdened with the tag of being the ‘next Zinedine Zidane’. Grenoble (http://www.goal.com/en/teams/france/637/grenoble) attacking-midfielder Sofiane Feghouli (http://www.goal.com/en/people/france/23345/sofiane-feghouli) is the latest player to be given such a moniker but, given the praise that team-mate Walid Regragui (http://www.goal.com/en/people/morocco/664/walid-regragui) has given the player, those who share the field with the 19-year-old believe he has great potential.

“When he arrived in the team, he immediately matured,” stated the Moroccan international to France Football. “He adapts very quickly and can raise the level of his game as soon as it is necessary.”

The veteran defender suggests that it could be Feghouli’s ability to keep “his feet on the ground”, which could steer him towards greatness. “He is very respectful and always listens,” the 33-year-old said. “It could have been a problem that we have quite an old squad here but, in fact, he demands plenty of advice from his team-mates. And importantly, he applies this.

Although Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus have all watched the prodigious young talent, Regragui asserts that Feghouli’s next side will be a little closer to home. “He knows that his future is first with a French club,” the former Racing Santander man explains. “After that, there will be propositions that he cannot refuse but I am sure he will make the right choice – he is smart enough not to burn his wings. Many players have a huge potential but get no better. Sofiane knows that.”

To score more goals is the target that Regragui has set for Feghouli during the second half of the season and, on Saturday, the teenager will get his first chance to ripple the twine in 2009 when GF38 face Stade Rennais.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

A very good post, StarrMatthieu. Indeed, Feghouli is one to watch, his technique and vision are Zidanesque. Though I don't agree that his target should be to score more because I think what he does best is he has that Zidane vision to spot a teammate with a through ball (he was among the leaders in L2 last season in assists) or hold the play while a teammate advances to have a better scoring opportunity. Feghouli can score, especially on free kicks, but his playmaking will be what sets him over the top. It's amazing that he only turned 19 a couple weeks ago.

He'll be starting this weekend off the bench though that's due to a bit of a dip in form, the rumors may be getting to him, but no one doubts he'll wear a Bleu jersey today. I expect him and Gabriel Obertan, who is starting this weekend (he's been loaned out and I believe he'll turn his season around with the Merlus), to inspire our Espoirs team offensively.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Really good match by Feghouli in arguably the biggest game he's had to play thus far with scouts watching throughout. As I watched the game, it was not a flawless performance, but definitely one which confirmed how really good he could be. Would have scored if Hugo Lloris did not happen to be one of the best keepers in the world. Dictated the play, and made it evident why almost every big club wants to buy him.

On a separate note, a better match by Obertan at home in Lorient according to the papers. He was noted as being his team's best attacking threat. Both of these guys should be stars in Espoirs as well in stars in Bleu if they would be able to continue their development.

[StarrMatthieu]

Really good match by Feghouli in arguably the biggest game he's had to play thus far with scouts watching throughout. As I watched the game, it was not a flawless performance, but definitely one which confirmed how really good he could be. Would have scored if Hugo Lloris did not happen to be one of the best keepers in the world. Dictated the play, and made it evident why almost every big club wants to buy him.

On a separate note, a better match by Obertan at home in Lorient according to the papers. He was noted as being his team's best attacking threat. Both of these guys should be stars in Espoirs as well in stars in Bleu if they would be able to continue their development.

yes yes yes oui oui oui !!!!!!

[Catel]

Domenech is a damn ********ing rich guy. If I may say so.

I think that almost 200 national managers would envy the amount of great players he can call up...

Such a richness can be found only in Brazil or Argentina !

[lefutur]

Domenech is a damn ********ing rich guy. If I may say so.

I think that almost 200 national managers would envy the amount of great players he can call up...

Such a richness can be found only in Brazil or Argentina !

Too bad he just pisses all that wealth away on a regular basis.

Its like the difference a good coach made at Barcelona between this season and last season. You look at the players Barcelona has and you think, why werent they killing everybody all along?

[Catel]

Too bad he just pisses all that wealth away on a regular basis.

Its like the difference a good coach made at Barcelona between this season and last season. You look at the players Barcelona has and you think, why werent they killing everybody all along?
It's not like Rijkaard DIDN'T succeed... :o

[AfrcnHrbMan]

So how close do people think Gignac is to getting a call up for Argentina now? I haven't seen Toulouse play all year so I can only go by numbers on this guy's form. Anyone actually watch him play this year? Does he have the world-class skills needed to put on that bleu shirt?

[Catel]

So how close do people think Gignac is to getting a call up for Argentina now? I haven't seen Toulouse play all year so I can only go by numbers on this guy's form. Anyone actually watch him play this year? Does he have the world-class skills needed to put on that bleu shirt?
I've barely seen a so much efficient striker. His style of playing is the same as Elmander, less spectacular but better scorer. Domenech already mentioned him at his debuts in Ligue 1 with Lorient, 2 years ago (he usually never does that). Now that he's the best striker of Ligue 1, I don't see why he wouldn't be called up. The only question is: when ? You must wait for the right moment. A player called up too soon might demotivate himself.

The same thing for Hoarau. :p

[iammrben]

A player called up too soon might demotivate himself.

Gomis anyone?

[Catel]

Gomis anyone?
You got it :)