http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=338029&cc=5901 Going to make getting a result on Sept 7th all the more difficult.
Well I wouldn't say that... Ireland still have a great chance against France. But this will certainly make things a bit more difficult. Maka and Zidane bring big game composure, and won't get awed by 40,000 raging Ireland fans.... It should be a great match.
So what was that game plan again? Don't worry too much about not pushing them too hard in Paris, because we'll take them in Dublin! All fitting nicely into place, I see..................
Still, if we get a draw against France in Dublin and win our final two matches, we still have a good chance of qualifying. When does the Spanish league start?
Our ************up against the Israelis is going to cost us qualification. We should have smacked them home and away.
just wanted to pop my head in and see what you lads were talking about. man, what i would give to be at the Dublin game. you local boys are lucky fockers.
Well les Bleus: ------------Coupet-------------- Thuram--Gallas--Silvestre--Lizarazu -------------Vieira--------------- Giuly----------------------Rothen -------------Zidane-------------- -------Trezegeut---Henry-------- Makalele, Zebina, Wiltord, Sagnol, Mexes, Pires-if he returns, Pedretti, Govou See my point?
Well, I think Vieria and Maka will play together, with Zidane given a floating midfielder role... France just got a lot tougher to beat.
Come on, I don't understand you guys, you've still got the Ireland-Switzerland game in Dublin. If you win it, you're almost sure to finish at the 2nd spot at least. Moreover, for us (the french), the most important game is the Switzerland game because winning in Ireland is always difficult, and it's the match against the Swiss which is our real objective.
My understanding is that if we LOSE to France, beating the Swiss might still not be enough for second. I suppose it depends on the Swiss-France match and the Israel-Swiss match.
Good, now Zidane and Maka can be introduced to the firm part of Roy Keane's elbow. We are at home with 40,000 fans on our side, and France still is yet to show anyone they deserve to be in Germany 2006. Zidane and Makalele aren't going to help us win, but let's not write us off yet. What if they have absolutely no impact and we thrash the frogs 3-0? Let's wait and see.
You seem to have forgotten that Trezeguet cannot play for France against Ireland. He was red carded in their last game against Israel.
Fine Govou, Malouda,oooh replaces him. Malouda, he's got some pace and with Henry. Faster than Trezegeut.
Gimme a break. You can't think that France won't miss a beat with Trezeguet out. To say they are even on beat is a stretch. Don't forget if not for his goal in Israel that game could have gone to the Israelis. I am not one of those people who will conceed a game to these guys just because two of their best players are coming back. We are still in first place in the group, and are at home.
Why? Because to me the French are a better team and with Makalele back it just got a whole lot tougher to break the French down. He has stepped up his game this last year with Chelsea and that's the big addition. I don't see Zidane as much of a threat but that was before he disproved me at the end of last season and if Giuly is going down the right fland and Pires down the left I'm sorry but I just don't think the Irish have enough class to sustain that on top of Henry going direct. Matter of fact not too many teams in the world can stop that. My NT too can't stop that.
Yeah, who's been badly off form for a while. Rothen won't start this game, although Pires probably won't either. France will play their Euro2K formation, although probably with Guily on the right, leaving Zidane, Vieira and Makelele as the other 3, Henry as the forward, and one of Wiltord (heh), Cisse, Malouda or Saha (double heh) as Henry's partner. I can't imagine them playing with a 4-5-1 since that would leave Henry alone up top. Isn't Barthez suspended for this game, btw, due to his spitting incident? I think seeing Evra at LB is as likely as seeing Lizarazu, although where Gallas/Silvestre/Thuram will play remains to be seen. For Ireland's sake, I would imagine they just want Mikael "Penalty" Silvestre on the pitch anywhere.........