[fishbiproduct]

Seeing that we do not have a sub-forum for our national
team and that we'll eventually discuss its "issues",
upcoming friendly games, etc, prior to the WC 2006,
how about a single thread for this purpose?

Friendly games PBP's could have their own thread,
but this could be "general discussion".
Does this *work*?


We started talking about a possible game versus
Costa-Rica, in Fort-de-France (Martinique) in the
France-Cyprus thread (if you want to check that
part). It would take place on November 9th,
three days prior to an already scheduled game
against Germany in Paris.
Well, latest news is that it isn't a done-deal yet
as it is still being negociated by the FFF. This game
is Domenech's wish, but will it be granted?:

"Foot - FRA-CRI : La FFF négocie encore

La Fédération française a confirmé lundi soir qu'elle négocie actuellement avec son homologue costaricienne afin d'organiser un match amical contre le Costa Rica, le mercredi 9 novembre en Martinique. Mais rien est encore signé selon la FFF. Le choix de disputer une seconde rencontre en plus de France-Allemagne, le 12 novembre, correspond à un souhait de Raymond Domenech.

La FFF explique qu'en cas de qualification directe des Bleus pour le Mondial, le sélectionneur voulait profiter de la trêve internationale (7-16 novembre) pour organiser un autre match amical , mais que «celui-ci ne pouvait pas être officialisé tant que la qualification n'était pas acquise.» Et «pour permettre aux joueurs (de) bénéficier d'une semaine entière de récupération et de préparation avant la reprise des championnats, la FFF a prévu de jouer ce second match le 9 novembre plutôt que le mercredi 16», précise-t-elle"

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/20051017_212946_01.html


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course, not everybody would be happy about
this, starting with (surprise, surprise) clubs.
Today, Gérard Houiller expressed his opinion about this,
calling it a "false-good idea" (there are many French
internationals playing for Lyon):

"Houiller contre un nouveau match


Gérard Houllier, l'entraîneur lyonnais, a estimé lundi qu'organiser un match amical contre le Costa Rica, le 9 novembre en Martinique, serait une «une fausse bonne idée». «Le match est en cours de négociations, tout n'est pas encore réglé», a indiqué de son côté la FFF après l'annonce de la tenue de cette rencontre sur le site de la Fédération costaricaine dimanche.

Malgré tout, Gérard Houiller met la pression : «J'ai déjà été sélectionneur et je mesure les difficultés de Raymond Domenech à préparer une Coupe du monde, mais je pense qu'il a tout intérêt à travailler en collaboration étroite avec les clubs pourvoyeurs d'internationaux comme l'OL.», etc"

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/20051017_173603_01.html

[Nanbawan]

Maybe he could use a B-squad with lots of players he wants to check.

[fishbiproduct]

Originally Posted by Nanbawan

Maybe he could use a B-squad with lots of players he wants to check.

Yep, there's always that, Nanbawan. On the other hand,
bit of a pity we don't seem to have a "settled" team
by now, and that's how I'd think these friendlies
could be usefull: to "finalize" a team.

Different subject now: obviously, I don't watch
French telly here and hardly follow the French press.
But I caught part of an interview with Zidane yesterday
morning (RMC) where he was basically asking the press
to "leave them alone" (players on the team). So I checked
and seems like questions are being asked such as
"why weren't smilling after the game" (Cyprus), "why
didn't they stay on the field", "what's the problem
with this team", etc etc , the usual (unfortunately)
press crap.
I found this video on Eurosport.fr, "Les Bleus en
questions":
http://www.eurosport.fr/home/pages/v...ven21917.shtml
What a crock of sheet...

Why do I get the feeling that they (the press) are
trying so hard to screw everything up? Don't you
think so? Seems to me a lot of people are asking
questions they have no business asking, although
I understand the "nature of the beast"...
Also, Platini for instance, and I had great respect for
him as a player, why is he putting his nose into this?
Shouldn't he just step back a bit and let things play
out the way they'll play out. I think what he is doing is
counter-productive...

[Metropolitan]

We have many players from Caribbean descent. Thierry Henry told already several times that he always dreamed to play with the blue jersey in Martinique. I always think that it would have been great to see France playing once, at home, in the Carribbeans.

Actually, I'm sure that many players of the A-team would make the trip to Martinique, not because they would have to, but because they want to. However, it's less sure they will play the game against Germany.

Anyway, if there would be a game to postpone between Costa Rica and Germany, I would like it better if it would be Germany. There's no rush to play the Germans so soon, it could wait the winter break. But anyway, I'm sure for players to handle both games at 4 days of difference. It's simply that few will play both games, but that's only about friendlies. It's not so bad.

[Metropolitan]

Originally Posted by fishbiproduct

Different subject now: obviously, I don't watch
French telly here and hardly follow the French press.
But I caught part of an interview with Zidane yesterday
morning (RMC) where he was basically asking the press
to "leave them alone" (players on the team). So I checked
and seems like questions are being asked such as
"why weren't smilling after the game" (Cyprus), "why
didn't they stay on the field", "what's the problem
with this team", etc etc , the usual (unfortunately)
press crap.
I found this video on Eurosport.fr, "Les Bleus en
questions":
http://www.eurosport.fr/home/pages/v...ven21917.shtml
What a crock of sheet...

Why do I get the feeling that they (the press) are
trying so hard to screw everything up? Don't you
think so? Seems to me a lot of people are asking
questions they have no business asking, although
I understand the "nature of the beast"...

The problem is that footie critics are like any other critics. They are frustrated players who never succeed to do anything, and to look smart they look down at those who succeeded. It's the same in cinema, litterature, theatre, anywhere.

The worst in that kind of style is the guy from 100% Foot. A new show I've seen once on TV last week (it was with Bernard Lama then). There were two critics in the show, one who came from "On refait le match" on LCI and the other being the one I don't like. The guy from LCI was at least a bit smart in his wonderings, the other dude was just as insightful as the guy I always meet at the bar when I buy my ciggies.

I agree with you. It starts to piss me off to hear only bad things about the French team. I think it's fine to criticize as long as it's constructive but I hear too many comments on the media which are made only for the pleasure to trash the team and which aren't constructive at all.

However, the little video you've posted still asks some good questions. Which players among the 34 Domenech has used in order to qualify will play the World Cup ? Why isn't there any "gaucher" (don't know how to say it in english) in the French team ?

The wonderings about the number of players existed already at the time of Jacquet beforce the WC 98. He had a problem to chose his 22 players...

I agree with you that it would be good to finally get the 11 starting players... and that they need to get used to play together. However, that's always a problem with national teams, and it's not 1 friendly every two monthes which will make a team. It helps, that's sure, but the 3 weeks just before the World Cup are also very important.

We can still see several players who'll most likely be in the 11 major... but it's true it remains many uncertainties. I hope someone like Ludo will be part of it, but knowing how few Domenech used it in the qualifiers, I have strong doubts on this . But I still can't see him staying at home during the World Cup.

[guignol]

Originally Posted by Nanbawan

Maybe he could use a B-squad with lots of players he wants to check.

hey, he's used something like 34 starters so far. that's enough. it's time to start molding what he's already got, not add to the pile!

[sl7vk]

If Boumsong is starting in the center of defense in 2006 I will be sick.

[guignol]

Originally Posted by sl7vk

If Boumsong is starting in the center of defense in 2006 I will be sick.

take a deep breath and repeat after me...abidal's back... abidal's back...

[sl7vk]

Originally Posted by guignol

take a deep breath and repeat after me...abidal's back... abidal's back...

Yes I understand that, but don't forget who is managing the club! If healthy the line looks
Sagnol---Thuram----Gallas---Abidal
But if Abidal gets hurt? Or Thuram?

[Pierre-Henri]

Well, bitchin' about everything and everyone is what we do the best. I guess you need a french soul to understand.

What's really puzzling me in this story is that the federation is doing exactly the same mistakes than in 2002. French team came in Japan completely exhausted, having played an hellish preparation race. After 98, team France became some sort of flying circus, playing here and there (Korea, Australia), with no time to rest or to train together.

I really thought someone in the Federation possessed a brain large enough to compute this simple information : players get tired when they play too much, and jetlag is not good for their performance. But no. I guess they are sponsored by Air France, or Adidas wants to increase its shares in South/Central America.