Welcome to the "Frog," my little piece of cyberspace to talk about my passion - le foot (or soccer for my North American friends) especially anything around French football. Of course I will have some guest contributors that might want to discuss other aspects of footy!
I support Les Bleus, Arsenal and PSG but really just love watching, analyzing and following the beautiful game.
"You have to trust your teammates, always. If not we are lost."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Domenech announces the 30 for France...surprise surprise
So the drama will continue a little longer. For a long time Domenech kept saying he would give us his 23 today and dispense with the drama associated with a preliminary list that then needed to be pruned. So much for that idea - rather he went with a list of 30 that will need to be cut down.
Gardiens de but
Cédric Carrasso (FCG Bordeaux)
Mickaël Landreau (LOSC)
Hugo Lloris (Ol. Lyon)
Steve Mandanda (Ol. Marseille)
Défenseurs
Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone)
Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United)
Rod Fanni (Stade Rennais)
William Gallas (Arsenal FC)
Marc Planus (FCG Bordeaux)
Adil Rami (LOSC)
Anthony Reveillère (Ol. Lyonnais)
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC)
Sébastien Squillaci (Séville FC)
Milieux de terrain
Vassiriki Diaby (Arsenal FC)
Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux)
Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid FC)
Yoann Gourcuff (FCG Bordeaux)
Yann M'Vila (Stade Rennais)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC)
Jérémy Toulalan (Ol. Lyonnais)
Attaquants
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC)
Hatem Ben Arfa (Ol. Marseille)
Jimmy Briand (Stade Rennais)
Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos)
André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse FC)
Sidney Govou (Ol. Lyonnais)
Thierry Henry (FC Barcelone)
Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern Munich)
Mathieu Valbuena (Ol. Marseille)
Players in bold are those that are little bit of a surprise to me, but not shocking. The 19 year old M'Vila is clearly some youth that is being infused into the side. What is slightly shocking is the exclusion of Benzema and Nasri. The latter you could argue had a very poor season at Real Madrid but was always called upon during the qualifiers and based on raw talent alone deserved an invite. The former really makes no sense to me. Nasri has had a strong season at Arsenal and after missing the early part of the season due to injury has come back very strong - and he could solve the right wing problem at the same time providing cover for Gourcuff. Add to this the fact Domenech will play with at least 3 offensive midfielders he needed to bring more midfielders to camp rather than too many strikers (granted only 5 I would consider are true strikers Henry, Gignac, Cisse, Anelka and Briand)...strange indeed. I am glad that neither Boumsong nor Escude were included in the list of 30.
At first blush I think the following will be the 7 dropped from the final roster:
Carrasso
Planus
Fanni
Briand
Ben Arfa
Gignac
Valbuena
I am very nervous that Domenech does not have someone that could take up the Gourcuff role, Valbuena/Ben Arfa/Ribery could do so in a pinch but they are all more wingers - another reason why the Nasri omission is slightly disappointing.
6 comments:
princedesparcs
said...
My disappointment at not having Nasri in the squad can't approach his, particularly since he's not being given the ostensible chance of making the final 23. But my interest in the team has been greatly reduced. I agree, Guy: Huge, huge oversight that can't be explained. He's a great kid, with skills and attitude this incarnation of Les Bleus sorely needs.
I am really disappointed he didn't pick Nasri either, but I am impressed with his picks for defense. I am glad he picked Rami and took out Escude. I was not expecting this from Domenech.
I feel so bad for Nasri although I don't think someone intelligent like Blanc will overlook him. What is up with the M'Vila choice. That is bizarre. He's played 34 games in top league and one u-19 cap or something. Nasri or even Menez would have fit that role 10x better. I think Benz should still have had a chance to prove his worth. Briand? Is he joking? Over Gameiro or Loic Remy. Pleaaaase! Dom is a fool and I can't wait until we have a smart person in that position for France. Domenech was lucky to have Zidane carry the team in 2006 otherwise that would have been a disaster as well.
I m sorry for Samir. He played Grt football that season for Arsenal. Remember that goal against Porto. Otherwise Team is ok. Because u never select star player for Bench staff. They can create problem. one thing Boss is always wright. Good luck for France Thanks Lekarlokin Bangladesh
I think something happened with Nasri and Domenech because the fact the Gunner has been banished to the waste lands of football after being lean upon so early in is inexplicable. I really fear that France will be left with little cover for Gourcuff, a big mistake.
As for M'Vila, I think Domenech is trying to demonstrate his vision for the side's future...but what is surprising is that Domenech is done after the World Cup so it is not as if he is looking at the player for future campaigns. Sigh once again no method to the madness.
6 comments:
My disappointment at not having Nasri in the squad can't approach his, particularly since he's not being given the ostensible chance of making the final 23. But my interest in the team has been greatly reduced. I agree, Guy: Huge, huge oversight that can't be explained. He's a great kid, with skills and attitude this incarnation of Les Bleus sorely needs.
I am really disappointed he didn't pick Nasri either, but I am impressed with his picks for defense. I am glad he picked Rami and took out Escude. I was not expecting this from Domenech.
I feel so bad for Nasri although I don't think someone intelligent like Blanc will overlook him. What is up with the M'Vila choice. That is bizarre. He's played 34 games in top league and one u-19 cap or something. Nasri or even Menez would have fit that role 10x better. I think Benz should still have had a chance to prove his worth. Briand? Is he joking? Over Gameiro or Loic Remy. Pleaaaase! Dom is a fool and I can't wait until we have a smart person in that position for France. Domenech was lucky to have Zidane carry the team in 2006 otherwise that would have been a disaster as well.
I m sorry for Samir. He played Grt football that season for Arsenal. Remember that goal against Porto.
Otherwise Team is ok.
Because u never select star player for Bench staff. They can create problem. one thing Boss is always wright.
Good luck for France
Thanks
Lekarlokin
Bangladesh
I think something happened with Nasri and Domenech because the fact the Gunner has been banished to the waste lands of football after being lean upon so early in is inexplicable. I really fear that France will be left with little cover for Gourcuff, a big mistake.
As for M'Vila, I think Domenech is trying to demonstrate his vision for the side's future...but what is surprising is that Domenech is done after the World Cup so it is not as if he is looking at the player for future campaigns. Sigh once again no method to the madness.
Plus a young player like M'Vila will not "fuss" as much when he does not make the list of 23...
Post a Comment