6-0 where has this team been? France roll over the Socceroos

Wow, 6 goals...3 of which came from strikers. One of which was Benzema. What is going on?!?!?! The Socceroos did not look like one of the better Asian sides today, but seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. After putting up 4 goals last match these are just the types of games that France need ahead of their World Cup qualifier play offs. Just like we should not take too much from losses, let us not get too far ahead of ourselves after this drubbing. But there is a lot of good that game from this game...so we should at least enjoy it!

The Good:

• 6 goals...anytime you can score 6 goals in an international game that is good. And this wasn't some minnow like the Faroe Islands. Australia has become one of the better Asian sides, but looking nothing like those sides in Paris. After opening the scoring

  

  First half of his brace

  early on a penalty kick, Les Bleus kept on pressing and really took it to Australia. The score line could have easily been more severs had Remy not missed on two golden chances in the second half. But I will take the 6 goals.
• The attacking midfield - I have to say that I liked what I saw from Ribery - Nasri - Remy. As I thought, the presence of Remy on the right, especially with Debuchy behind him, allowed for the French attack to be much more balanced. Australia could not simply overload the left side. Nasri in the middle looked like the Nasri of old. He made some great passes, took on defenders when the opportunity arose and pushed the attack. Mid-way through the first half he dribbled to the end line, took on three defenders...who he beat...and drew a dangerous free kick. He also combined very will with Ribery on the third goal, the two former Marseilles midfielders using their pace and passing to break down the Australian defense and then Nasri put a simple square ball right into the path of an on rushing Giroud who was more than happy to get his brace.
• Speaking of Remy...his work with Newcastle teammate Debuchy was a sight for sore eyes on the right. The Newcastle right back was dangerous all night jumping up into the offensive zone, making runs from deep, offering good crosses and working well with Remy to bring life to the right side of the formation. Oh and Debuchy put away a wonderful left footed volley in the second half. Not sure Sagna would have had the creativity, let alone the talent to put that shot away. Debuchy almost found himself a brace on a header late in the game. The French right has been an enigma for too long. Let us hope that this promise gets fulfilled.
• Benzema...okay this might be a little tongue in cheek, but the fact the Real Madrid striker got himself a goal, albeit in a one sided game can only be seen as good. It was also a pure striker's goal. Ribery made a pacey run on the left and Benzema did what all strikers are taught to do, make a hard run to the near post. And he was rewarded. I hope this gets him back on the right track.

  

  Make a near post run and you will be rewarded

The Bad:

• Remy lack of finishing. Yes I am being picky. But Remy had two wonderful chances in the second half to get himself a goal. The first one he found himself all alone in front of the Langerak, it was clear he opened up the hips to fake going far post and tried to drag his shot back to the near post. Unfortunately he smashed his shot wide, not even calling upon the keeper to make a save. Some are calling into question whether or not he looked at ease enough on that side, but I think he deserves another look. Especially if you keep Debuchy at right back (which I think Deschamps needs to do). 

The Ugly:

• Australia...the Socceroos just did not look like they came to play.  They were letting the French look like Spain with their passing and counter attacks. The score line could easily have been 7 or 8 nil. At one point in the first half it felt like France might even score double digits. Just not what I expected from a decent national side.

Finally a game that we did not have to pull our hair out about. A game where France gave us a reminder of the talent they do have on the side. I forgot to mention but the duo of Cabaye and Pogba looked fantastic, with the Newcastle midfielder bring more offensive punch to that deep lying midfield (scoring himself on a bullet of a shot). Now Les Bleus need to head into their final match against Finland and look to build on this. I doubt they will get 6 goals, look for Finland to be much more organized and disciplined on defense. But France clearly have to have an eye to the home and away play off. The question becomes - does Nasri get another shot at the #10 role? What about Remy, I think he deserves another look but does DD go back to Payet? And up front, Giroud seems to be making it difficult to not start him. Time will tell. But for now let us enjoy this win.

Deschamps tinkering with the right side. As he should.

Deschamps has not unveiled how he will roll out his starting 11 tomorrow against Australia at Parc des Princes. However based on the "first team" that DD leveraged during training, it would appear that he is going to be focused on making the right side of the formation stronger and therefore balancing out the French attack. What the line up my resemble:

Lloris - Debuchy, Abidal, Sakho, Evra - Pogba, Cabaye - Rémy, Nasri, Ribéry - Giroud.

If this is indeed the line up, some interesting notes.

• Giroud in the place of Benzema. The struggles of the Real Madrid striker have been well documented. The fact that DD might not start him for a second straight game could be a sign that he has dropped in the pecking order. Benzema might need a change of scenery with club if he hopes to regain his place with country. The once prolific goal scoring machine seems a shell of himself. Alas, I am not sure if this is a "rough passage" feels more like wasted talent. 
• New right side of the formation. Well not entirely new, Debuchy and Remy had been regulars in the past. With Sagna injured the door is open for the Newcastle right back to get back into

  

  Better offensive option on the right than Sagna?

  the formation. I also feel that Debuchy brings a much more consistent offensive punch than Sagna. Remy, to me, has always been one of the best if not the best option for France on the right side. He is a natural right sided player. Has the pace and touch to control the right channel and actually bring some offense to that side. The fact he can also slot in as the lone striker gives him a powerful profile for the side. I hope that Deschamps gives this right side time to develop. It has much more potential than the Sagna - Payet right side that DD has leveraged the last few matches. 
• Nasri given the keys to the kingdom. Well maybe not the keys, but being slotted in the middle as the #10 would be a refreshing and interesting move for DD. He has been leveraging the "petit velo" Valbuena in that slot recently, but I don't think the Marseille midfielder really fits that profile. Nasri's talent does. Now it it up to him to show it on the pitch.  
• Pogba and Cabaye as the holding tandem. Not an area I am too concerned about for France, whether it is Matuidi or Cabaye or Pogba, there are plenty of options for the holding tandem. I will be interested in seeing how Cabaye, a bit more offensive minded than Matuidi, does next to Pogba. Regardless it should prove to be a powerful tandem in front of the defensive back 4.

Of course all this could be pure speculation and DD could roll out his usual side with Payet on the right and Valbuena in the middle...but DD needs to figure out his right side. Currently it is not working from the stand point of offering offensive threats. With Ribery on the left the game tends to lean that way, a little too much. It has become predictable - stack up your defense towards that side and you will slow down the attack. The likes of Remy and Debuchy should offer some better options on the right and force teams to defend both channels. The real question becomes - can Les Bleus get any goals out of their forwards?

We shall see.

Allez les Bleus.

World Cup 2010 - Group D

Okay I realize the draw was over a week ago and I have only given my predictions for 3 groups...so here is Group D:

Group D:

Team v • d • e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Germany	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Serbia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ghana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

This is the "thug" group, no quarter asked and none given in this group! Clearly the favorite to emerge is Germany, how could you not see the Germans getting out of the group stage. I have actually seen one pundit saying they will crash out in the groups...as much as I would love to see that, it is highly unlikely. This team might be one of the favorites and not just because it is Germany, but the bulk of their roster is the "perfect" age - early to mid 20s - if you have read the book Soccernomics it points out that players best years are exactly in that range...something most soccer fans have realized for themselves. With the likes of Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Gomez, Lahm et al in that range one could expect great things from the squad. Also they gained great experience in the last World Cup finishing 3rd as well as the Euros where they made it to the finals...granted they were badly outclassed by Spain but still good experience. However it will be the 30+ players that will determine how far this team will go - Klose and Ballack. The Chelsea man in particular, with this being, most likely, his last World Cup he will be fighting to get his name on a trophy. Unlike other German greats - Muller, Beckenbauer, and Matthaus - Ballack has never been able to receive a winners medal. He will clearly be looking to correct that in South Africa. I think the second place will be fought out by the other 3 sides, each with a legitimate hope of securing the spot. Australia will be looking to build on a good World Cup in Germany where many would argue, they were robbed of a place in the 1/4 finals by a Grosso dive at the end of the match against Italy...something I would agree with!



Australia have slowly developed their national soccer side and moving into the Asian region has been good by forcing them to play a more competitive qualifying campaign. I think that the problem is that the Australian stars are getting older - Cahill and Kewill - I think they had their run in the last World Cup. They will not be a walk over but might be between generations to expect to improve upon Germany 2006. Serbia are the surprise nation, finishing first of their qualifying group - ahead of Les Bleus. They will be a solid squad that I think could surprise. Their back line will be anchored by the Manchester United man - Vidic and could showcase the Serbian/American Subotic (wonder if Bradley would eat his hat to have been able to line him up for the US?) the midfield will be run by the Inter man Stankovic. The main fear I have is the keeper...depending on who they play I have little confidence that the keeper can carry this team far. Just look at what Stojkovic did in the game against France...he was very shaky, even when his team were up 1 player! Finally there are the Black Stars of Ghana and we all know where their strength lies - midfield. With Essein, Muntari and Appiah they have arguably one of the best midfields, I would put them below Spain's but in the same ballpark. As they demonstrated last World Cup, they can ride this strength to the knock out stages and if they can avoid going head to head with a Brazil who knows how much further they can go. The question becomes how will they defend? There is little quality in the goal or on defense. Offensively they do not have a star striker which might limit how far they will go...maybe they would do better had Freddy Adu chosen to represent his native land....joking.

Clearly there will be some physical battles in this group. But in the end I think things will work out as follows:
Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia - however the order after Germany could be any combination, I think that Australia is the least likely to finish 2nd.
Player to watch - Ballack, the German captain will want to get off to a good start and make sure he can get his World Cup final - some would argue that had he not been suspended in 2002 that Germany would have won against Brazil.