KO Round: Spain-France Pre Match Thread

Why couldnt they have met with Switzerland

 

France is actually not so bad.

Unlucky their coach is finally getting it just before the Spain game, but they are still one of the 'easier' big teams. Either we win, and we build up some confidence that we beat France a former World Cup winner going into our next game, or we lose and we would have had no chance against upcoming better teams anyway.

 

Now I'm nervous. I really hope they don't submit to the pressure during this one. It's all in the mind for this team!

 

Well in order to win the World Cup you are going to have to face these bigger teams at some stage. Unfortunatley Spain can't just play Ukraine, Tunisia or Saudia Arabia every game. I don't mind this game at all because if Spain are to advance then it least it gives them the advantage of playing against one of the big teams. Teams like Brazil, England and Italy will have to wait until the next round to face tougher opposition. Obviously I can see the flip side to this coin but as Oscar said France are perhaps the weakest big team left in it. From what I have seen from both teams opening 3 games it is France who will have a lot more reason to be fearful. The Zidane-Henry partnership certainly does not striker fear into the hearts of any defence despite both players' reputation. If Spain can emmulate the form and positivity from the first game then they will have no problem. It's imperative that they take the game to the French from the start in order to rattle their cage. Spain will advance but it's the improving Brazil that is starting to worry me.

 

well, my experience with football manager 2005 tells me france will win it 4-0, but then again that was me managing in a silly game and not quite our present situation wherein we have a shit coach and a crap selection.

On the basis of current form, I'm quite nervous and a spain victory looks most likely. However, we do have the weapons to counter and I believe we're going to start with a physical approach and impose ourselves on the game that way.

Best of luck, and I hope to see a thrilling game (and a french team that actually plays). Only four days away

 

I would like to see Spain advance, but im afraid it wont be easy. This game will be very different from any of Spain previous WC games. So far, the Spaniards have been able to win the midfield battle which has enabled them to dominate the shots statistic. Im not sure if Xavi, Xabi and company will be able to control the midfield in this one. I think its going to come down, as it usually does in high-powered battles, to which team can put away their scoring chances.

 

wow, the French board think they will win easily! this is why i like the French, for one they are not trolling here (aka Serbia and SA..etc) and for 2 they have a lot of confidence in their team.

Our team might go in scared out of their panties and that scares my panties.
i hope our young age doesn't affect us.

France is a class team all around and their bad performance in the first 2 games doesn't mean anything, they are still a very good team and you can never forget ZuZu.

 

huh we haven't even started a france-spain topic yet and I doubt any french supporter thinks this is going to be easy

 

Spain, for the moment, is really better than the team of France…. but, these last years, France has often won against Spanish teams… I also think that France NT will play better against good teams, it is paradoxical, I know, but I really think it.

 

We will have to play a good game to beat them because they are a physical team with quality players.I bet Henry will be gunning for us and especially Aragones.

Bring it whiner

 

Well, as far as the lineup goes. I'd start with Cesc in place of Senna, and maybe Reyes instead of Luis Garcia since he seems to be more consistent. Joaquin in for Villa in the second half. Pernia was good in the Ukraine game, and Pablo has been decent I guess. Thoughts?

 

They are physical, but we have rested our starters, and they haven't and are are an old team. It's their experience what worries me the most.

Aragonés has said he expects them to line up Vieira, Makelele, Trezeguet, Henry and Zidane coming from the left.

I think Cesc instead of Senna has positive thinks... after all he schooled the Juve midfield of Vieira-Emerson at Highbury. But I doubt it will happen since it would unbalance our team defensively... specially since Aragones has said he's worried about Henry going wide to the left, which is the side Senna is supposed to help defend.

 

France didn't offer a well game. But they always played with teams supposed to be inferior like korea. They had a lot of pressure, and it's never easy to play with a bad team. For the 1/8 final, they'll play with Spain a big nation of football. Besides, every thinks spain is gonna win. here, they won't have a lot of pressure, Spain and France are quite egals. they will play better than with switzerland or Korea. That' s why i think france can win even if she did a bad beginning of the WC. And spain had a very easy group, and beat ukraine who played at 10 without Sheva...
may be i'm optimistic but i hope i'm right. Allez les Bleus

 

Not really paradoxical,

We don't like to do "the game".

I'm afraid to play Spain, I agree, but I think they can win, if they play at their club level...

When we play against big Team, we don't lose:

The last 13 matchs:

France 0-0 Germany 12/11/2005
France 2-1 England 13/06/2004
France 0-0 Brasil 20/05/2004
Nederland 0-0 France 31/03/2004
Germany 0-3 France 15/11/2003
France 2-1 Brasil 07/06/2001
France 4-0 Portugal 25/04/2001
Spain 2-1 France 28/03/2001
France 1-0 Germany 27/02/2001
France 1-1 England 02/09/2000
France 2-1 Italy 02/07/2000
Portugal 1-2 France 28/06/2000
Spain 1-2 France 25/06/2000

It's our time to win against you

Good luck !

 

A lot of people bring up history in sports. And while it may help a team mentally prepare, all in all it's in the players themselves. Teams change, either side can win. One big change for Spain is a slew of young players.

 

If this is the case, Ramos will eat him alive, I can't think of any more mismatched physical duel in this game. Maybe Pernía will have problems with Ribery, if he starts.

 

Todays training: Cesc and Raúl have substituted Senna and Luis García in the starting team.

EDIT: I still don't see Raúl playing more than one half. IMO he's more valuable as a sub.

 

dmar, I agree with you about Raul. Maybe he'll have a stellar day vs France, it is his 29th birthday. Hopefully it will be a good one for him AND us. He and Torres did score in today's practice game.

from AS.com:
En el entrenamiento de esta mañana Luís Aragonés a dado a Cesc y Raúl el peto de titulares. Noticia bomba, ya que se esperaba que no cambiara el equipo titular de los dos primeros partidos.

Senna y Luís García serían los jugadores que se quedan en el banquillo. Parece que la buena actuación de Cesc y Raúl en las segundas partes han convencido a Luís, que utilizará un equipo muy ofensivo contra Francia.

Al comienzo del entrenamiento se practicaron jugadas de estrategia. Más tarde, se jugó el partidillo de titulares contra suplentes, donde los titulares ganaron 2-0 a los suplentes con goles de Raúl y Torres.

 

I have been pushing for Ramos to start as a right back for Real Madrid but for this game I would suggest moving him to centre back. His pace could be useful in stopping Henry as opposed to Pablo is extremely slow and could get killed by Henry. The only thing that worries me about France is the pace of Henry on counter attacks and their strong defence. Villa and Torres are going to have to bring their A game for this one. The defence is the strongest part of Frances' team so if Spain can get beyond them frequently then they should win.

 

What scares me about moving Sergio to CB for this game would be that Salgado would play RB. No thank you. I'd rather see Sergio helping out Pablo than hope that Salgado will help out Sergio.

 

Salgado is a competent right back. Your a Real Madrid fan, you should know that over the past few years he has been fantastic for us. Surely you are not going to condemn him after one mediocre performance in a game which was meaningless. I can guarantee a fired up Salgado should he be picked for this game. Pablo has been the weakest part of the defence in both games, he shouldn't be there.

 

It's not just this last match where he failed to impress me. His speed just isn't what it used to be, which is dangerous when facing Thierry Henry. I have no doubt he'd be fired up emotionally for this game, but I'd rather see someone with some speed and some offensive as well as defensive skills at RB for us during this game. It looks like Aragones is planning an attacking lineup for this game, Salgado just doesn't fit in.

 

France lining up in a 4-2-3-1
--------------Barthez

Sagnol---Thuram---Gallas-----Abidal

--------Vieira----Makalele

Ribery---------Zidane--------Malouda

--------------Henry

Looks like Domenech feels this will be won in the midfield. Look for France to play on the break and try to exploit the speed of Malouda, Ribery, and Henry going forward. Whoever scores first will almost certainly win. Good luck, I hope you are as confident as Aragones and Marca that you will send Zidane into retirement!