Domenech announces his 30...Trezeguet's France career comes to an end, for now

At 11:00am this morning, Paris time, Domenech announced the 30 man roster he will choose from to head to the Euros this summer. Some surprises, but mostly par for the course. The list -

La liste des 30 joueurs :
Gardiens: Grégory Coupet (Lyon), Mickaël Landreau (Paris SG), Sébastien Frey (Fiorentina/ITA), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille)

Défenseurs: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone/ESP), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), François Clerc (Lyon), Julien Escudé (FC Séville/ESP), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Philippe Mexès (AS Rome/ITA), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich/GER), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelone/ESP), Sébastien Squillaci (Lyon)

Milieux: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth/ENG), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal/ENG), Claude Makelele (Chelsea/ENG), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan/ITA)

Attaquants: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Djibril Cissé (Marseille), Bafétimbi Gomis (Saint-Etienne), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelone/ESP), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich/GER), Samir Nasri (Marseille)

From this list, Domenech will cut down his list to the magic 23 that will head to Austria/Switzerland this summer. Again, not too many surprises ... but any list will have some so here are the ones that jump out to me:

• Gomis from St Etienne - the Franco/Senegalese players has been a goal scoring machine in Ligue 1, racking up 16 tallies this season....which is saying a lot in a league that sees its fair share of 0-0 draws. I highly doubt he will make the final roster but good experience for the youngster and a good opportunity for Domenech to look at this player. Although Domenech did pick Chimbonda out of the blue for the World Cup, he could do the same with this youngster.
• Boumsong...um okay not a surprise since we are talking about Domenech. BUT WHY???? I recently was chatting with my friend Anant who said it best...he is a "DONKEY." You already have Gallas and Thurman firmly entrenched in the middle of the French defense, Escude will most likely be there since he is a central defender, but can also slot to the wing of the defense. So you are telling me that Boumsong is really in competition for a spot with Mexes and Squillaci???? Both these players are head and shoulders above than the former Ranger defender...again a DONKEY....
• Speaking of Boumsong, surprised that Clichy was left off the roster. While he might be third in line for left sided defender behind Abidal and Evra, he is better to have in Tignes for a few days than Boumsong.
• Leaving Sagna off, to me it must be due to the Arsenal man's injury not because Domenech truly feels he is not better than Clerc on the right side. I think the right side of the French defense might be its Achilles heal, why? Sagnol is coming off an injury where he missed a large chunk of the Bayern season and he is no spring chicken, Clerc is not even the undisputed #1 right side defender for his club. Without a healthy Sagna I think France might find itself struggling at this spot.
  
• Trezeguet....okay no real surprise that the Juventus sniper was left off the roster. Clearly his career in Blue, at least under Domenech, is over. The French manager has made it clear since Germany 2006 that Trezegol would struggle to maintain his place on the national team, regardless of the constant success he enjoyed for the Old Lady. Sad day for Trezeguet, sad day for Les Bleus. I cannot understand why his regular goal scoring touch for Juventus all of a sudden does not translate when he put on the blue of France. All strikers go through tough spells, but it seems David was going through one since he lite up Germany many moons ago. As I stated in a prior post, I think David still has a lot to bring to the team and would be a great change of pace striker. Too bad Domenech does not see it that way.

Otherwise I think the players Domenech announced are those we all expected. Off the cuff the seven players that will not be going to the Euros from the group -

Mandanda - the Marseille's keeper is the future for France but will not force his place into the top 3, but look for him to be there for the World Cup in South Africa.
Boumsong - um maybe hopeful thinking but seriously...is he better than Squillaci, Mexes or Escude???
Squillaci - With 4 central defenders on the team - Gallas, Thuram, Mexes and Escude...in a pinch Abidal can slot there, the Lyon defender is heading home with Boumsong.
Alou Diarra - The Bordeaux man is victim of a log jam of players that play the holding/defensive midfielder role: Makelele, LDiarra, Vieira, Toulalan, Flamini...
Flamini - See reason for ADiarra....
Ben Arfa - Domenech likes the winger even if he is club does not see the need to start him...his time will come for both club and country
Gomis - The StEtienne man is there to soak up the atmosphere and get a reward for a great domestic season, but will be one to watch for World Cup qualifiers

In a few days we shall see what Domenech has up his sleeve, knowing him we are in for another surprise or two....