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Les Bleus will line up in a 4-3-1-2 with two strikers supported by the offensive midfielder Nasri.
Coupet - Clerc, Mexes, Thuram, Escude - Diarra, Mavuba, Diaby - Nasri - Cisse, Anelka
I am happy to see that Domenech has lined up the youth for this game. I have read a few articles stating that France needs to win to validate their small 1-0 victory over Lithuania, I saw hogwash. France needs to keep their eyes on the prize - finish 1st or 2nd in the Group to qualify for the Euro, not worry about winning a friendly. This game is very valuable from the perspective that the youngsters need to get some run together on the pitch.
There is one surprise for me, and that is Thuram getting the start. Why not have Squillaci in the middle of the pitch? Maybe Domenech wants some veteran leadership to anchor a very young and experimental back 4.
I will be very interested to see how the three holding midfielders do. This will be the second cap for Diaby and Diarra, Mavuba will be back in the fold after a false start a few years ago. Unlike the three holding midfielders against Lithuania, there is more offensive punch here in Diaby. Not only does he physically resemble Patrick Vieira but his game is a poor man's version,
where he really bridges the defense to the offense. Something that is not the strength of Makelele, Toulalan and at this moment Diarra. Mavuba will play more of the Makelele role, camping out in front of the back 4. Diarra will be the one tasked with destroying any offensive build up around the midfield line and Diaby will be looked to for counter attacks and getting the ball to the strikers. Throw in Toulalan and you are looking at the future of the holding/defensive midfield for Les Bleus for the future. Assuming that these players all develop to some level of the potential they all appear to have, this could prove to be another strong midfield for the French national team - following on the strong midfield that won the World Cup '98 and Euro '00 - that was anchored by players such as Deschamps, Vieira, Karembeau, Petit or the Euro '84 Champion - that team had the Carre Magique - Tigana, Fernandez, Giresse, Platini (I am convinced that if that squad had 1 world class striker they would have won the world cup in either '82 or '86....)The big question for this midfield is who will fill the play maker role that was handled by Platini and Zidane.....a bit of a lofty status to live up to.....if
the hype is to be believed Nasri might be the heir apparent for the offensive midfielder that makes the team world class. The match against Austria will be the first test for the young Marseilles player. While I think that much of the hype is generated because of his pedigree - Marseille born midfielder of Algerian origin....hmmmm sound familiar?Before we look to the young talent to become the next Zidane, we need to temper our expectations. Players like Platini and Zidane are arguably top 20 players of all time, maybe even top 10 (I would rank Pele, Maradonna, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Puskas, Platini, Yachin, Eusebio, Best, and Zidane in my top 10 - with Mueller, di Stefano, and Maldini close behind) So we should not place such a burden of expectation on the slender shoulders of the youngster. However I think the role of creative midfielder could be assumed by other players - Ribery and Gourcuff - coming to mind. All three have the ability and vision to distribute the ball, I would argue that Ribery looked to pass too much in the World Cup and was not selfish enough at times! Between Nasri, Ribery and Gourcuff I hope that one emerges to take ownership of the #10 strip for Les Bleus.
Up front, you have a newer strike pair - Anelka and Cisse - made up of veteran strikers. If they can click it will give Domenech the necessary options and alternatives up front to the Henry - Saha/Trezeguet pairing.
This game will be very interesting from the perspective of seeing how the midfield clicks, how Anelka and Cisse work together. I am not looking for too much from the back 4. Escude is being played out of position (maybe Domenech should have called up Clichy....given him his first A cap as well....would have rather seen Clerc, Mexes, Squillaci, Clichy), Mexes will most likely pair up with Gallas in the future, and I still do not understand what has happened to Chimbonda (he should be there rather than Clerc)
Predictions -
France 3 - Austria 2 a good ole fashion 5 goal affair.
Anelka 2
Cisse 1
3 comments:
I thought this lineup was brilliant on a number of levels. First, how can you know how the newer players will play unless you actually put them on the field? And these younger players really have something to prove and will give 100%, even though it's a friendly and the team played four days ago. (I still really want to see Benzema capped, though.)
Second, by resting the Lyon players and Gallas and Makelele, Domenech gets some points for being a reasonable person, which he can use right now. There's a difference between being a strong leader and being irrationally pig-headed, and he was coming close to crossing the line.
And third... Well, if they lose (which OF COURSE they won't) :-), they have an excuse: The star veterans weren't playing.
I was also surprised to see Thuram -- I expected Mexes and Gallas or Squillaci -- but this kind of makes sense. I think it's a recognition of who Thuram is to the team and also of the fact that he still has something to offer even at this point in his career. Let's just hope his legs hold up to two games in four days.
I think that Thurman has become an such a student of the game, he knows how to "save" his legs and efforts. Plus he is surrounded by some very atheletic and young defensive talent, hopefully they will be able to rely on his experience while he relies on their atheletic ability.
Well said.
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