The players betrayed me claims Santini over French farce Hello! That's a new one! Apparently, the players betrayed Santini despite the fact that he was being too nice to them. I wonder if we're going to have a press conference in two years where Santini declares that Robbie Keane betrayed him, which led to the Spurs being relegated
Santini is right to hold some of the players responsible for underperforming and not putting in the effort. Ultimately they were the ones on the pitch who had to make it happen, the coach picks the team and gives instructions, he cannot make them do it all on his own. The team shape and selections were good enough to get the job done, some of the players just did not handle the pressure or play to their best. What Santini is getting at is that quite often the players who underperformed were the ones flapping their big mouths about how they should be picked and how the team should play. Henry and Trezeguet were very poor, they offered no movement or work rate at all. Then there was the defence which just could not concentrate at all, some sloppy ballwatching and a lack of covering for each other. Too often the players would give the ball to Zidane and then switch off as they were expecting him to do anything.
Just having a larf, sendo. Certainly many players on the French team did not perform to expectations. I have no problem conceding that Henry did not have a good tournament, especially considering his form in the Prem. Still, you have to question some of Santini's picks. Trezeguet should've been pulled earlier. Notice how Henry played much more like he does for Arsenal when Saha was in. Silvestre was horrible from the minute the matches started, yet kept getting in the first XI. Desailly? What was he even doing there? Player selections like that can (and should) be blamed on the coach.
IF Santini, who only had Zidane, Henry, Pires, Trezguet, Thuram, Bixente, etc. etc. etc. at his dispossal, could only get the French national team to perform mediocre, then Spurs has found the perfect mediocre manager to remain mediocre!?!
What! We totally agree that some players weren't up to what expected form them. But let's not forget that Santini made some mistakes that affected France performance. Saha, too late to be in for Tez. What the hell was Silvestre was doing there? I don't say he is not good enough but the guy keep making mistakes and looks shaky. Gallas as a RB! can't Sanitin notice that Gall plays better as CB, he could much better than Silvestre over there. In my opinion Thuram is better than Gallas in RB. At least the guy can make some good overs from the right flank. Mmmmmmmmm, Henry? yeah, he isn't the same guy who has had a fantastic season with the Gunners, but can we take a look at Santini tactics in this issue? France and players should just forget about Santini era and prepare for the 2006 world cup qualifications which starts, if am not mistaken, after 2 months. For me, the questioin is: Will Zidane be there?. Hopefuly he will.
I don't think Santini brought Saha in too late, I'm sure a lot of other people put in charge of the French team might not have brought in Saha at all. Thuram was too old to play right back, he is NOT the same player he was in 1998. Gallas did very well at right back in Euro 2004, he looked clearly the best French defender and broke forward very well. Santini tried Sagnol as well and it's not his fault Sagnol came down with the shoulder injury and got ruled out of the tournament The selection of Silvestre I cannot really defend, it's the one area I would criticise. Although it should be said that the team needed a centre back with pace and for the most part Silvestre did ok apart from the few bad mistakes. Considering how good a year Silvestre had at centre back with Man Utd when Ferdinand was playing, it was reasonable of Santini to expect more from him. Henry had a great year at club level - but NOT in the big pressure games, like the FA Cup semifinal when he came on as sub, or in the Champions League semifinal. Euro 2004 was all about pressure and having teams restricting his space to run into. He should have handled it and done better. How about that free header he had in the Greece match??? Any top striker should have scored that.
I also think bringing Desailly was dumb, pairing Trezeguet with Henry was foolish, and Thuram is no longer any better out wide than Gallas, because he's lost some of his pace. Why wasn't Mexes even in the squad? As for the header........this tournament has been replete with "world class" strikers missing those. Vieri must have missed about 5 against Sweden, and Raul kept missing them all tournament. Henry was no worse, and did score two goals, something Vieri and Raul never figured out how to do.
Henry is certainly not the best at heading the ball but the miss against Greece is not a good example to back up your point. I would hardly call that one a sitter.
Pairing Trezeguet with Henry was foolish??? Despite the fact they spent most of their France national careers playing and scoring together, are close friends and came through together at Monaco? It was clearly the first choice striker partnership for France, they just didn't get going or put the effort in when things weren't going their way. Bringing Desailly was something Santini more or less had to do. Leaving him behind would have been too controversial and would not have helped the morale of the squad. I don't think he should have played Desailly as a starter, especially against a physical Croatian team, but when he struggled in that match Santini recognised it and dropped him back to the bench. Mexes wasn't in the squad because he isn't good enough defensively yet. He still needs to prove himself in that respect, he can pass the ball well and read the game but his defending is not solid enough. He has not been impressive in his caps so far. Boumsong the Rangers-bound mercenary on the other hand can feel hard done by at having Silvestre put in ahead of him. It was definitely a sitter which a striker of his supposed level should have buried, he was under no pressure, it was a good cross to pick him out and the goalkeeper had no time to react. It was a clear chance to score and a decisive moment in the game. It was not much different from the Greek goal, possibly easier. Other strikers missed chances similar to that, especially Raul and Vieri, but neither of those two have been in any kind of good form this season, let alone scoring 30+ goals in this past season and touted as being currently the best striker in the world.
I also want to say about Trezeguet, how any balls did he get?? I certainly don't think it's all on him...why would you give a cross to Henry in the penalty area when Trez is there? You don't give headers to Henry! Let's note the goal from Trezeguet came courtesy from the opposiong team and not his teamates. How do you also cross a ball higher than Trez where he can't reach it? The man is 6'4! I can't recall anything besides one good ball which the defender got to and Trez ended up in the net... Also, how silly to deny Trez and Henry their partnership, they've played together for 12 years... 12 years. For clubs (weren't they at Juve together for Henry's 6 months?) and country. Haven't you seen them playing together? Barring this tournament they're amazing together. Which makes me ask again, Haven't you seen them play together?? Goal after goal and assist after assist between the two of them for eachother. They play perfectly together, instinctively, and even telepathically and after this tournament I would still not deny their partnership.
Santini is a fool. Why did he make Henry play the typical centre forward? I know Henry and Trez know each other well or whatever but Saha worked harder (the few minutes he got to play in the tournament) and made the defense divert some of their attention to him, which allowed Henry to play with a little more room and run with the ball from the wing. The way Henry was deployed completely nullified his speed advantage over defenders, and Trezeguet's lack of running allowed them to clamp down further upon Henry.
I totally respect your point of view, that first. But I still think niether Titi nor Trez performed the way that we expected from them, the reasons? Well, as you can see so many people doughted Santini tactical choices. Playing Henry as a typical forward in a matches that your opponent defended hardly is a shaky choice. Let alone that Pires himself asked Santini to put him in the left side and make Hery close to him so they both can find space, not to forget giving Zidane the creating midfield role. Lizarazu also talked about Henr't position, Zidane backed Titi too saying that has alot to show but some tactics have to be changed. I even read that the Frech press asked Santini to play just like Jaques and Lemerr did. If Trez not performing well, of course the coach has to make decisions, which unfortunatly came late, in my opinion. Henry missed good chances, yeah thats right, but Trez didnt help him alot. Belive me i have nothing against this guy, it just that I like him as a very very good player which actually wasn't obvious this tournament. Yes its not Santini fault that Sangol broke his arm, but check this thread then I think you'll have so many questions as I did : https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118390 The way he choosed the squad raised some questoins. Mendy, Frau, Evra .... am not saying give those young gusn a big chance but let them back up your squad. Just when the super stars not performaing well, go ahead for 'em. Gallas? mmmmmmmmm, the guy is good, but bot good enough to play in RB. I watched te whole matches and still cant remembe a perfect cross he did, a dribbling in the right flank, definsivly he is good but the question is about his ofensive abilities. Meaby he did one or two but not enough. Unfortunatly, some names didn't. Nice to have that discussion with you sendorange and sorry for my horrible English.