La liste des joueurs retenus pour les matches contre les Iles Féroé et la Lituanie

Well, what a shocker. There is a striker on the squad who is injured, and I don't think it'd take very long for anyone to figure out who it is. Yes, it's Louis Saha who is questionable heading into the 2 qualifiers. It is another tough break for him, but he is expected to head to Clairefontaine to clarify the issue with Domenech who will confirm his injury (apparently not being on the MU team sheets isn't enough for the boss).

I think since I've been here, I've always been against having him on the team, though I mean, you kinda have to feel for the guy.

Anyway, I suppose the big question is whether Trez should get called back into the team. I think that you all know what my opinion is, and it appears a majority of France (60%+ according to an online poll) agrees that he should be back in the squad.

 

I'm going to laugh if Domenech decides to add Rio Mavuba to replace Saha. After all, it's alright to have 6 defensive midfielders, right?

 

Apparently now Philippe Mexès is injured and is <<incertain>> for the qualifiers. Though there are some here who will disagree with me, I think this is a big blow for France because Mexès is the best French defender in my opinion (key word there: my opinion), though one could argue defense is arguably not a huge concern against the Faroes and Lithuania, though hey, anything can happen.

Though both he and Saha have yet to be "confirmed" injuries, it does look as if they'll miss these 2 qualifiers.

Anyone have any thoughts on who should replace him? Bodmer because he has a good long range shot and can play in defense? Squillaci? Another Arsenal player? (I don't know if Clichy is capable of being a center back.)

I think as long as it isn't Jean-Alain Boumsong, France will be alright. Oh right, he's out injured anyway.

An interesting note is that France have won every match Philippe has appeared in.

 

Indeed, Louis Saha has confirmed that he is out for the 2 qualifiers. Could it be a sad end to a player whose international career once thought could bear so much fruit? I will say yes, he's now been surpassed by the likes of Benzema, and one could argue it'd be much more productive if a highly skilled and versatile attacker such as Ménez is taken to Euro instead.

In any event, as aforementioned, Philippe Mexès is also on injury watch. David Trezeguet's cellphone is also being monitored should he be receiving a call or a call-up very soon.

 

Well, as it turns out it appears Trez's cellphone won't be ringing because Domenech apparently won't replace Saha with anybody!

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2007/20071009_152635Dev.html

Right. That makes sense. I mean, call up a guy like Rothen to deliver crosses, one would assume, and when one striker who has aerial ability goes out with injury, one does not replace him with another whose aerial ability would be even better?

I hear that "Raymond Domenech and the Order of the Illogic" will soon outsell
"Domenech for Dummies."

 

Well, instead Domenech has called up Hatem Ben Arfa, which is actually not a bad choice as he's an attacking midfielder (as opposed to Makélélé, Toulalan, Lassana Diarra, Diaby, Flamini) and that he's among those I'd pick to make the final Euro roster anyway as he's got the skill to make the difference.

Nevertheless, tactically I'd think it better to pick Trezeguet, though hey, Domenech didn't call up an off-form Cissé or a mediocre Piquionne (I'm an ASM supporter, if you recall), hence I think that France are satisfied to some extent, as it could be worse.

Hmmm, at this point, I have to wonder when Jérémy Ménez will get called up.

 

I'm happy that you're happy, guignol, and more importantly perhaps, I'm happy that Hatem is happy. I really do think one will see all the stars of that U-17 team (Nasri, Benzema, Ménez and Ben Arfa) in France's Euro roster. That's how I would have it, were I sélectionneur, anyway.

 

Hindsight's 20/20, though you wonder what would have happened had Laurent Blanc been given the reigns instead of Domenech. Though Blanc has yet to prove himself completely (and he did lose to OL at home 3-0), I believe that France would have played a more attractive style regardless. Also, none of this harping on any U-21 matches, or wives getting text messages nonsense.

France would also see more of Frey (a teammate of Blanc back when he was at Inter) and Mexès (who has always been trying to emulate Blanc), who are a much better sight to see than Landreau/Boumsong.

Then again, I'll be fair that other than Wenger, I don't believe there's a truly elite French manager out there. Perhaps Didi Deschamps. Guy Roux if one has the powers of Hiro on Heroes.

 

I mentioned Blanc because he was one of the candidates who were mentioned for the post after Santini left. He was arguably the choice of the players, especially Zizou and Fab. I don't see why it's that important to have "22 years of experience" in order to be a sélectionneur, as with Domenech, he had experience with the U-21 team. Managing that is not the equivalent of managing a big club well there'll always be much pressure. When Domenech was U-21 sélectionneur, it is not as if not qualifying for the Euro would kill him. Yes, there are some who would be disappointed, but it doesn't come anywhere close to the considerable pressure in qualifying for a senior tournament.

In any event, this is all moot as it appears France is stuck with Domenech, though if I were France, I would not shed many tears if his horoscope this month read "the end of your days is approaching at your job. Go home to your wife and observe her if she's exchanging text messages."