Française Espoirs (France B Team) a Belgique 18 Feb 2004

[Fonsos]

Here's the B Team for France that will take on Belgium's B side on the 18th before the both A sides play.

Gardiens de but: Landry Bonnefoi (Messine), Ludovic Butelle (Metz)

Défenseurs: Jérémie Berthod (Lyon), Cédric Bockhorni (Nancy), Gaël Clichy (Arsenal), Stephen Drouin (Nantes), Jacques Faty (Rennes), Fabien Laurenti (Ajaccio)

Miliueux de terrain: Olivier Auriac (Brest), Emmers Faé (Nantes), Matthieu Flamini (Marseille), Nicolas Karlamoff (FC Valence), Jérémy Mathieu (Sochaux), Mourad Meghni (Bologne), Jérémy Toulalan (Nantes)

Attaquants: Catilina Aubameyang (Trieste), Anthony Le Tallec (Liverpool), William Mocquet (Le Havre), Bertrand Robert (Montpellier), Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Liverpool)


FYI,
les bleus usually will play their B team in a friendly against their A team's opposition.

[T3tsuo]

Here comes the new generation! A lot of talents up front, once again :)

[FrenchFlair]

just two corrections:

1- It's not France B (it doesnt exist)
But Under-21 team.
Its a little bit complicated.
It concerns competition of under-23 years old players of countries which participate to UEFA nation championship.

It was called Under-23 till 1976. Then it has been replaced by a under-21 competitions till 1988.

Then it has been upgraded to a under-23 competition by keeping the "Under-21" name.

Very clear, isn't it?

2- Jeremy Berthod is injured... as Jeremie Alliadiere (Arsenal)

[Fonsos]

Originally posted by FrenchFlair
just two corrections:

1- It's not France B (it doesnt exist)
But Under-21 team.
Its a little bit complicated.
It concerns competition of under-23 years old players of countries which participate to UEFA nation championship.

It was called Under-23 till 1976. Then it has been replaced by a under-21 competitions till 1988.

Then it has been upgraded to a under-23 competition by keeping the "Under-21" name.

Very clear, isn't it?

It's essentially France B. This is a friendly, so that doesn't even fall under the guise of UEFA under 23 competitions. I'm quite aware of the difference between the two and it is common that when most senior teams in Europe play, they're under # side plays the same opponent the day before the Senior sides play.

[FrenchFlair]

Of course you can called it with the name you want.

Why i insist with the U21 name? (or Espoir, official french name ... Les Bleuets, non official)
Because even if it's a friendly match, it still official. Then it's the real U21 team that will meet Belgium (and not team composed of A team subs or else)
It is lead by U21 coach Raymond Domenech and U21 staff.
Friendlies are really official UEFA match, even if it doesnt count for qualifications.
This week is an official time for friendly games in international calendar.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/Under21/news/Kind=1/newsId=145148.html
Note that these friendly matches count for number of player selections or goals.
Then, there is no interest in playing friendlies with other teams than official teams. Because friendlies are opportunities for coaches to test their choice for competition games.
Well, in one word, it's a real official U21 match as tonight it's an official friendly A team match against Belgium.

But i dont think Lennart will call you tonight if you still using B team terms ;-)

AH... I have to not forget :

"Les Bleuets" (nicer name for this team, isnt it?) won 1-0 in belgium last night.
William Mocquet scored.