Deschamps' dilemna - bold moves that might be made

So we have had 24 hours to digest the French 2-0 victory over Nigeria, and two big questions linger for Deschamps.

• Benzema - Giroud: as I stated in the last blog post, this partnership needs some work. And this is not the time to test and work out the kinks. It is tough on the Arsenal man that once he came out of the game yesterday the French all of sudden found their rhythm and took control of the game on the offensive side. Of course there would not be this problem had Ribery been healthy. But he is not. Does Deschamps look to Griezmann to shore up that left side? I think he does. The next few training sessions will give us a glimpse into what line up DD will roll out.
• Speaking of the left side...does Deschamps have a problem with Evra? Were it not for Giroud's debacle of a game, Evra would have received the worse grade for the French yesterday. I read one match report that gave Evra a 3 and Giroud a 2! (scale is 1-10, 10 being perfect). Evra looked a shell of himself for most of the game. Only make a few late runs offensively which amounted to very little. Was this due to Evra being on a yellow and not wanting to pick up a second and missing the 1/4 finals? Or was it because as the Gooner stated - "he has lost it." I believe that it might be a combination of the two. I do not see Deschamps sitting his veteran, but I am hoping that the yellow card threat was what had Evra pump the brakes a bit on his game.

There is also another story coming out of Brazil - that Varane had to be hospitalized for dehydration.  This story is concerning. Something else to watch for. The next few days should be very interesting to say the least.

Allez les Bleus.

Survive and move on...France took this to heart and move on to the 1/4 finals

Ouf ouf ouf...Les Bleus get through to the 1/4 finals. And if anyone thought it would be easy this game should quickly squash those illusions. France were on the back foot for much of the game and the African team could have hoped for a goal for themselves before the 60th minute. For most of the match it felt as if the Super Eagles were more likely to sneak a goal in than the French. But a game is 90 minutes, alas for the Super Eagles. So let's look at the game -

The Good:

• France get through. Les Bleus get where they needed to get to make this World Cup a success. Of course I expect them to go further...but being one of the 8 nations left is nothing to sneeze at. Especially in the context of what happened 4 years ago. Add to all this the group they had to deal with at the World Cup and anything short of this stage would have been a failure no matter how things were spun.
• As mediocre as Pogba was in prior games, it felt like he upped his game today. The beginning of the match his passes were not crisp and lacked a certain weight to them. but as the game progressed his game rose in volume. He was not afraid to take on players in the middle of the pitch and great some space for the attack. The first half volley was a fantastic piece of skill. And of course he got the goal that liberated France in this game. A simplest of headers once Enyeama made an ill advised foray out of his line to try and play the cross. It is a good sign for the French if their Juventus midfielder plays up to his potential.
• Speaking of Enyeama, he had a monster of a game. Granted it was his ill played attempt to play the French cross that led to Pogba's goal. But without his saves the game would have gotten out of hand early on. He made a massive save off a Pogba

  

  Huge save in the beginning of the game

  volley in the first half, got enough of a Benzema 1v1 and then another save on a strong header from Benzema. Any of these saves are not made and the game is lost much earlier. But the one mistake he made cost his team. But without him the game is done, maybe even in the first half.
• Koscielny and Varane looked a very comfortable pairing in the center of the French defense. Kos proved me wrong today, he was a rock back there and his partnership with Varane worked very well. This bodes well moving forward and will give Deschamps some real choices to contemplate if Sakho is back at full health.

The Bad:

• Giroud and Benzema need more time to develop...and this is not the time to work out the kinks. Yes the combo worked well against Jamaica...but that is Jamaica. It worked well again against Switzeland, once they scored and the Swiss started pushing high up the pitch allowing them to operate with relative ease up front. But as Nigeria demonstrated, if the opposing defense packs the space there is not enough creativity to get the ball to either striker. It also pushes Benzema wide, which is not a bad place for him, but it creates a defensive hole on the left side. Which has the knock on effect of neutering some of the offensive runs from the French right back - Evra. The French looked very dull until Deschamps took off Giroud for Griezmann. As much as I was intrigued and in favor of this line up, I think if France are to have any hopes of moving any further they need to insert a natural left winger - Griezmann - to start the game. This allows for Benzema top play down the middle, where he is more comfortable, and provides more defensive cover on that side with a natural left winger in place. 
• France's lack of a true player that can break down a team. This game was an example of how the loss of a Ribery hurts the French. When they had the Kaiser patrolling they left flank, France knew they had a player that could single handily break down a team. This was clearly lacking in this match up. Too static, too predictable. When the fullbacks don't push up it also takes away an element of the attack. To go deep in a World Cup, you need a world class player. France have many excellent players, but without Ribery, they miss their world class player.

The Ugly:

• Deschamps' substitution pattern raises some questions. I have no problem with bringing in Griezmann for Giroud, clearly that was move that worked. However, why did he not take out Matuidi? Even for the last 5 minutes, he was on a yellow. I know France were up 2-0. He took out Valbuena to protect him and also be more defensive with Sissoko. So why not with Matuidi. All it would have taken is a silly challenge and Matuidi is out...for the 1/4 finals as well!

Bottom line, Les Bleus are through. They have all their players available for the upcoming 1/4 final game. It will be interesting to see if Deschamps goes back to Griezmann on the left wing with Benzema in the center. And what about center back? If Sakho is healthy does he come back into the starting line up? The next few days will tell.

Allez les Bleus.

Giroud and Pogba back in line up - hunting for goals

It appears that Deschamps will roll out Pogba and Giroud in his starting line up at the expense of Sissoko and Griezmann. Very interesting. This would be an indication that Les Bleus will be looking very offensively minded. I like this formation from an offensive perspective, but there remains questions with regards to defending, especially on that left side with Benzema.

The line up - Lloris - Evra, Koscielny, Varane, Debuchy - Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba - Benzema, Giroud, Valbuena

We all know what this line up did (swap out Pogba for Sissoko) against Switzerland. But that game's pace was dictated by the quick two goals scored by Les Bleus. That is not

You are a little heavier than Valbuena to carry around

something you can count on facing the Super Eagles. France will most likely have to play a match similar to all the other knock out round games - caution from both sides and the team to score first goes back into a shell to defend the lead. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Enyeama will be the x-factor for Nigeria. The Lille keeper is quietly one of the best in the world. Can the French attack break him down? I think they will be able to, but they need to hit crosses early and often into the area. Look for Giroud to knock down these crosses for Benzema and the midfielders making runs. Benzema will also need to be clinical with his finishing, his form against Ecuador will not work in this game. From the flip side, will the likes of Evra be able to slow down and contain the speed from a Musa coming in from the wing? Evra is also on a yellow...might this make him more cautious in his defending? Look for Matuidi to shadow that side a bit more to help with Musa. Cabaye will also be key. It has been overlooked in the Ecuador match that the PSG midfielder was not on the pitch (neither was Valbuena). While Le Petit Velo is clearly the offensive metronome for France, Cabaye's ability to cut down offensive forays by the opposition and more importantly be the launching pad with his surgical passing is vital for the French. The x-factor for France might be how Pogba plays. He gave some glimpses of his talent but he has also disappeared at times. Which Pogba do we see today? Remember - he is also on a yellow - something to watch for.

This game is by no means easy for either team. Nigeria was not overwhelming in their group matches, but they did what they had to. They are now playing with house money and many are touting France as a new team, one that can actually contend challenging for a ...gulp....title.  I am not as optimistic. I still think Les Bleus will emerge victorious from this match. But it will be a nail biter.

France 3 - Nigeria 1. Late goal from France make the score line more flattering.

Allez les Bleus!

France head into Nigeria game with serious question marks

Surprise surprise, Sakho might not be ready to go for the Nigeria match. Again...I call into question DD's decision to play the Liverpool man against Ecuador. Maybe he would still have been out for this match, but I have a feeling more rest would have been helpful. Now Deschamps approaches the knock out stage without his first choice central defender.

It would appear that Koscielny will partner with Varane in central defense. I will admit this pairing makes me a tad nervous. Not sure Kos has the athletic ability to keep up with some of the Super Eagles' strikers. Just look at Musa carving up the Argentine defense in their final group game. This will be something to watch for in the match.

Second thing to look for is how does the midfield do, especially Pogba who has been receiving some scrutiny lately about his temperament. The Juventus man is also victim to lofty expectations that were set from having such a wonderful domestic season. Latest report is that Pogba is in the starting line. I am not sure the criticism of Pogba have been fair. Other than a silly gesture against Honduras, Pogba has been playing well. To his lofty level? No. But that talent is hard not to have on the pitch.

Cause for celebration?

Finally what to do up front? Griezmann or Giroud? Clearly Valbuena and Benzema will start, but who to play that left wing?? Seems like it might be Giroud in the middle with Benzema on the left. I do like this formation, much more offensive and as we saw against Switzerland, lethal on the counter. Does DD hope he can catch lightening in a bottle again and see this
formation strike early?

There are some questions heading into the Nigeria game. I will be very curious to see what the actual team sheet looks like. The Super Eagles have every right to believe they can beat Les Bleus. They already did so last time they played...in France! They have some pacey players that can cause the French defense some serious problems. On the flip side the Nigerian defense can be leaky as well. However, they do have the x-factor - their keeper, Enyeama. Who had an amazing 1,062 minutes without conceding a goal in Ligue 1 for Lille this season. Much like Ochoa for Mexico, this quality of a back stop can be a real difference maker. Something to watch for.

Regardless I am not ready to look past the Super Eagles. Was France's victory against Switzerland fools gold? Let us see who DD rolls out tomorrow!

Allez les bleus!

Deschamps turning over his starting line up again - 6 changes?

As it appeared earlier this week, it appears that DD will turn over more than 50% of his starting line up from the one that put up 5 1/2 goals against Switzerland (I give Benzema a 1/2 goal for the one he scored at the end of the game!).

The expected line up -

L’équipe probable : Lloris -  Sagna, Koscielny, Sakho, Digne - Pogba, Schneiderlin, Matuidi - Sissoko, Benzema, Griezmann

• Both full backs will be swapped out with Digne and Sagna getting the nods.
• 2 changes in the middle three from the ones that started against Switzerland - Pogba back in as a starter and World Cup debut for Schneiderlin.
• Griezmann back up front...but not Sissoko on the right wing over Valbuena. Interesting. 

Deschamps has always implied that what he likes about Sissoko is the ability of the Newcastle midfielder to play multiple roles - defensive midfielder, wide player and even as a #10 on the pitch. Something to watch, I still see Sissoko as more of a defensive player. Could DD be trying this out to counter some of Ecuador's outside speed? I would have thought that Remy might have been given the start on the right side.

Deschamps is clearly tackling this match as a fait accompli with regards to France's

First taste of the World Cup

qualification to the next round. Which I would agree with. For France to NOT qualify they would have to lose to Ecuador by more than 4 goals and for Switzerland to blitz Honduras. Could happen...very unlikely it will not happen. And it is not as if Deschamps' second options to roll out are chopped liver. It is smart to get some of his bench players some time at the World Cup. I would not have been surprised if he had opted to have Ruffier in net over Lloris. But I have a feeling he wants to ensure his #1 keeper gets time behind the defensive rotation, in case he has to have them in front of him later in the tournament.

If this is the line up that comes onto the pitch tomorrow, it is almost a hybrid 4-4-2 with Sissoko dropping back to form a four man midfield while Griezmann and Benzema act as the two high players. This could be to allow France to absorb pressure from Ecuador and look to hit on the counter. France is almost assured to not only go through but also in the first position in the group, so they can sit back and absorb the pressure. Ecuador is going to look to win this game. They are ahead of Switzerland right now, but they need a result against Les Bleus and hope that Switzerland doesn't. With this potential formation, it appears that DD will roll out a team that can defensively sound, manage the pace of the game and look for Benzema or Griezmann to exploit any counters the French can launch.

I expect Ecuador to start out aggressively, look to find an early goal against the French. If they can somehow spring an early surprise they might be then content to sit back themselves and look to counter through their pacey players. If Les Bleus can weather a potential offensive push early from Ecuador, both teams might sit back and play cautiously until the second half. Depending on what is happening in the other game the pace of the second half might take on a much different look. I also think that Deschamps will want his side to look for a result, keep their positive momentum going. But what he certainly wants to avoid is to create a situation where his defensive gets exposed - and where questions start to arise.

Look for Remy, Mavuba and Giroud to get some time in the second half. Depending on the situation I could see Pogba being taken off for Remy who would slot to the right and allow Sissoko to drop back to the middle three. Mavuba could replace Matuidi and Giroud in for Benzema.

I look for a very cautious first half, but a much more open second (much like many of the other games this week). France keep their momentum going but Ecuador gives them a run for the their money.

France 3 - Ecuador 1

Allez Les Bleus!

Les Bleus - pump the brakes a bit after great showing against Switzerland

Group E

#	Country	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	France	2	2	0	0	8	2	6	6
2	Ecuador	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	3
3	Switzerland	2	1	0	1	4	6	-2	3
4	Honduras	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

These are the standings of Group E after day #2 of the group matches. The euphoria of the majestic 5-2 win for Les Bleus over Switzerland is still palpable. Some press are even putting France into the category of potential winners. I am not ready to go there.

France are not even qualified for the knock out round. Every team in Group E are mathematically still alive for the knock out rounds. However for France to make it would take a monumental collapse that not even the Red Sox of French football team could find a way of making happen. France would have to lose to Ecuador and the Swiss would have to make up the 8 goal differential. A monumental collapse no doubt.

So let us assume the France go through and most likely in first place. Meaning they will miss facing the Argentinians in the next round. But France and DD face some interesting questions with regards to how they should approach Ecuador. In the World Cup you need to keep an eye on the knock out stages at this point. Deschamps has two players on yellow cards - Pogba and Evra. Neither of which DD would want to lose for the knock out rounds. But there is a wrinkle to that, more on that later.

DD also has to deal with a Sakho that might not be 100% fit. As well as Cabaye that is not able to play in the game - that might not be a bad thing since he will start the knock outs yellow card free.

Deschamps should look at the Ecuador match as a half World Cup half friendly, I realize that might sound arrogant but France need to think about the next rounds. They need a win or draw against Ecuador to ensure they get through, but as I stated even a loss allows them through as long as the 8 goal differential isn't overturned. Here are some thoughts:

Ready to start in place of Cabaye?

• Keep the trio of Benzema, Giroud and Valbuena in the starting line up. It has been a pleasant surprise the two times it has been rolled out. An 8-0 and 5-2 wins against Jamaica and Switzerland. I certainly do not expect such a goal deluge each time this line up rolls out there, but it seems to have some real teeth to it. The question becomes will it have success if and when it faces the metal of international football? Now is the time to get it some time.
• Look for Mavuba in the place of Cabaye. That seems to be DD's choice of like for like substitution. The Lille captain will be a solid replacement for the PSG midfielder. I am not sure that Mavuba can replicate the passing accuracy of Cabaye. But he can certainly more than replicate the defensive efforts.
• Kos or Mangala to shoulder Varane? Based on the substitution patterns it would appear the Arsenal man will get the nod. Even if Sakho is healthy enough to play I might not want to risk further injury if it can be avoided. Some have pointed out that the second Swiss goal came off the back of Kos, but if Debuchy had done his job the play would have been off side and no harm would have been suffered. I think Kos is more than capable of playing along side Varane in the back.
• What to do with the yellow carded players? As I mentioned both Pogba and Evra are on a yellow. In a way, I bet deep down inside DD might have hoped that both had picked up yellows yesterday. Against Ecuador I am not sure Deschamps would have been too nervous having to start Digne at left back and not having Pogba available. I am not so sure he feels the same if he has to start Digne against say Bosnia or....Germany. How might that happen you ask? Let's say Evra plays against Ecuador and does not get a yellow, he will still be sitting on his yellow from the Honduras game in the first round of knock outs. Imagine France plays Bosnia, which is a physical team to play. A game where cards might be flying fast and furious. As a defender he has a strong likelihood of potentially getting another card...he would then miss, assuming France get through, the 1/4 finals. Which could very well be against...Germany. Who have Gotze and Ozil as wide players. You see the potential danger! I might be over thinking this, but DD needs to think and look ahead.
• With this in mind, even if Evra plays, I would expect Digne to get in a good 30

  

  Would be very different against the senior squad

  minutes of time on the field - as long as the game allows it. Get the PSG left back some game time at the World Cup, in case he is needed later due to the yellow cards. A player like Schneiderlin might also get some run to provide cover for a Pogba and the other midfielders.

France and Deschamps can go into the Ecuador match a little more at ease than might have been hoped 2 weeks ago. Of course they cannot take anything for granted, but even with a number of bench players in the starting line up France should be more than competitive against Ecuador. I certainly do not expect 5 goals, but a result is well within reach.

Keep an eye on the Sakho injury this week as well as how Deschamps manages his yellow card players.

Allez les Bleus.

Les Bleus! France play like it is the 1958 World Cup - lots of goals...for both sides

I will freely admit I was nervous even when France had a 5 goal lead...and I was sort of vindicated when Les Bleus decided to give back 2 goals. Okay okay that is the cynical side of me. What a game from France!

I told the Gooner that I would stay positive with this post...so here is the good...and only good.

The Good:

• Five goals from five different players...from that stand point it was nothing short of spectacular. France might have been able to add at least a couple more as well - Benzema missing the penalty and Cabaye some how hitting the cross bar on the follow up. As well as Benzema on a second half volley that the Benaglio made a strong save on. France was able to score from the run of play as well as from a set piece. They also were very dangerous on the break, Valbuena scoring from a fantastic break that started from a defended corner - Varane broke out and put a ball to space where Giroud was hustling back from defending the corner to pick out a clinical pass to Le Petit Velo. I think that is the most the big Arsenal striker has run ... ever. 
• Benzema - remember when Karim went dog years without scoring a goal? Thankfully that seems behind him. 3 goals in two games...and could have been more! He arguably had a hat trick against Honduras and if he had hit his PK oh and if the official had waited a few seconds to whistle the end of the game...okay okay...I realize I am

  

  Acrobatic volley bags Benzema his 3 goal of WC

  being greedy. But what is good is that he is clearly in form right now. His goal was a pure striker goal, a great diagonal run into the box, Pogba served him a sumptuous ball that as a good striker, he just put in the back of the net. Never looked at goal, just put it exactly where he wanted. Even though the last goal didn't count, do not underestimate what the strike does for his confidence. In his mind he knows he can score and take chances like all good strikers have to do. He also can add two assists to his tally. After his first two World Cup games, it appears that the Real Madrid striker is enjoying the biggest stage.
• Pogba's pass was a pure caviar of a through ball. A cheeky pass, with the outside of his foot from about 30 meters out, right into the path of Benzema was nothing short of splendid. One commentator said it was Zidane-esc, It might very well have been.
• A wonderful first goal from Giroud. The Arsenal man did not look thrilled to have been taken off by DD. I am sure he thought there were other goals for him out there. But a goal and an assist is not a bad day at the office for the striker. I will be interested to see if DD sticks with his formation of Giroud and Benzema on the pitch together. 
• France put themselves in a good position - getting 6 points from their first two games cannot be underestimated in terms of importance. They are virtually assured of going through, the only question is whether in first or second place. Their goal difference also doesn't hurt. All they need is a draw against Ecuador to assure they get through and probably in first place. The ability to head into the last game without major pressure to win is a huge plus. This will also allow Deschamps to protect his side, the players on yellow cards as well as turn over his roster and get some players on the pitch. This allows Deschamps to turn one eye to the knock out round. This might be even more apparent if the result tonight puts France through - a draw or a loss by Ecuador and France is through. 
• The French depth of roster - Les Bleus have a deep roster. This should not be a surprise for a nation like France, but it is encouraging to see when in action. Being able to bring in a Pogba or Griezmann is impressive. Being able to see Sakho have to come off and being replaced by Koscielny is also a great example of the depth. This depth might be on display again in the next match. We know that Cabaye will not play

  

  Not bad when you can bring him off the bench

  since he received a second yellow. It will be interesting to see if Sakho is healthy enough to go, or if Deschamps replaces him regardless to protect his central defender. Evra and Pogba are also on yellow cards from the Honduras game, maybe DD sits both of them to protect them from missing the first game of knock out. Although DD might have wanted to both to get a yellow in this game...to clear the slate...alas couldn't game the system.
• Deschamps needs to get credit, regardless of how this World Cup ends, on having done wonders to have changed the team attitude and make up. After two World Cup games it appears that DD has the team playing in harmony and as a team. Something that was not uttered 4 years ago, maybe even 2 years ago during the Euros. Watching the team celebrate after the goals there seems a real unity, I realize that is a small part but in the last few tournaments there was not much celebrating...and when there was it was often marred by histrionics. See Nasri's goal against England in the Euros. 
• France join Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina, as the only nations who have score a century of goals in the World Cup. Their total tally is 104. Not bad company to be in!

Like I said earlier, only good in this post. Even the late two Swiss goals will not be allowed to get me down - plus Benzema had the sixth...had the official allowed play to continue for a few more seconds. What a difference 4 years make, this time during the South African world cup France had score zero goals, lost to Mexico and drawn with Uruguay...and about to have their mutiny. Much more enjoyable this time around! I will be very interested to see what happens with regards to Sakho and his injury, as well as how Deschamps tackles the last group game. The result from Ecuador v Honduras will determine a lot of how DD can go into the last match. A draw would be nice. Guarantee France go through and most likely in the #1 spot.

More work ahead for Deschamps, but tonight he can have a glass of champagne.

Allez les Bleus!!

France v Switzerland: key match for Group E and DD with some surprises

France and Switzerland will face off later today in Arena Fonte Nova. This game will most likely determine who finish atop the group and who might be facing a nervy final day. There has been a lot said that both sides would fancy a draw since it would almost surely guarantee both go through to the knock out stage. I think that on the contrary both sides will be looking for a full three points. Neither team wants to assume anything about their last games and neither team wants to finish second. Why? Since the runner up of Group E faces the first place team of Group F...which should be Argentina. Want to avoid La Albiceleste in the first match of knock out!

Heading into the match, there is already some interesting news from the French camp. Deschamps has apparently decided to make some changes to his line up that dominated a weak Honduras side.

• Giroud in, Griezmann out. I am surprised by this move. Not that the Arsenal striker does not deserve a start based on how he was playing in the warm up matches. However I am surprised from a tactical stand point. Assuming that DD rolls out a 4-3-3 with Benzema - Giroud - Valbuena across the top. This could be a very powerful offensive formation - see my previous post about the flexibility in attack this formation gives. The issue is on defense. And this might be even more exposed against the Swiss. The Swiss right flank has some real threats. Shaqiri the right winger and

  

  You want to back track? Or should I?

  Lichsteiner the right back. The Bayern Munich winger is a real attacking threat, he does like to drift to the middle and cut inside. That will drag Evra into that space. Leaving the wide channel open for the marauding right back from Juventus, Lichsteiner. Neither Benzema nor Giroud is a true winger in the sense that they take the defensive responsibilities of that role to heart. I had more faith that Griezmann, a natural left winger, would ensure he assumed is responsibilities to track back and most importantly check any runs from the Swiss right back. With two natural center forwards on the pitch, DD will have to ensure one of his midfield trios cheats left to cover for his left wing not back tracking. This might fall to the likes of Cabaye, he will need to be aware of the space that gets greated when Shaqiri pulls Evra to the middle of the park and space opens up on that side.
• No Pogba? The other rumor is that DD will start Sissoko in place of the Juventus midfielder. That is a real surprise to me. I thought if anyone in the midfield that started against Honduras would sit it would be Cabaye due to the knock he picked up. One argument is that Pogba was targeted for some extra attention against Honduras, could have gotten red carded and did pick up a yellow card. If that is the reason I am a little disappointing. Pogba plays his club football at one of the world's largest clubs in a very physical league - Italy. He is targeted because he is so good and influential on play. I am not arguing that we should use the World Cup to prepare Pogba for such treatment, but come on...he is a professional. Trust him that he can contain his emotions. If we would sit players because of their temperament then how did the likes of Zidane, Keane, Cantona etc ever get to play? Hopefully this is simply a rumor. Pogba's talents are too good to leave on the bench for fear he gets a yellow card...

Clearly DD is looking to carry the game to the Swiss if he has both Giroud and Benzema on the pitch together. Deschamps is taking a chance. If the Swiss are getting numbers up and taking advantage of the French left it could be a very long day for Les Bleus. If having Benzema out on the left forces Lichsteiner to be more conservative in his runs then maybe DD has taken the initiative. This is something to watch early on.

Also look how the French midfield operates if they have Sissoko rather than Pogba. The Newcastle midfielder provides some different options for France but he isn't like Pogba - a box to box midfielder that can control the midfield.

This is a big match for Les Bleus. There is much euphoria over their 3-0 win over Honduras. Which might be fools' gold - Honduras were down a player all second half, something to keep in mind when looking at the final statistics for the game. France will be facing a nation that is ranked in the top ten, if you take any value in those rankings....I don't take too much value from them! But the Swiss have some real talent in their ranks - the aforementioned Shaqiri and Lichsteiner, as well as the likes of Xhaka, Drmic and Inler. They are also managed by a wily managing veteran - Hitzfeld.

I look for a cautious match by European neighbors. France go up 1-0 mid second half from a Giroud strike, but conceded late. France 1 -  Switzerland 1.

Allez les Bleus!

With Griezmann or Giroud? DD weighing his options

The latest out of the France should come with no surprise - DD is weighing his options with the left wing. Does he go back with the player that is a natural left winger - Griezmann? Or does he go back to having both Giroud and Benzema on the pitch?

We know that DD is going with a 4-3-3, if he goes with the safe play he inserts Griezmann on the left. The Real Sociedad winger fits the profile of a natural left winger. He would allow Benzema to slot back into the middle of the offensive formation. But that also means you are leaving one of your "in form" players - Giroud - on the bench. Is that wise? As I wrote about in a previous post. Having Giroud and Benzema on the pitch offers some interesting options with the offensive front three. They can easily drop into a 4-3-2-1 formation or a 4-3-1-2 depending on if they need to clog the midfield to keep possession, the former or chase a goal the latter.

Here is what it could look like with Giroud/Benzema:

How the 4-3-3 would start off with Benzema on the left

If France need to lay back and seek possession they can drop Benzema and Valbuena deeper on the pitch. It would resemble the Christmas Tree formation that the Italians sometimes lean on. Provides a very strong defensive foundation from which to counter. The key is Giroud up high, atop the offensive triangle. He will be called on to hold the ball to allow the other players to make diagonal runs into the box.

Giroud sits high with Benzema and Valbuena dropping deeper

If Les Bleus are looking to be more attacking then they can push Benzema higher on the pitch and allow Valbuena to roam behind the two strikers. Giving Le Petit Velo the freedom to carry the creative play for France.

Valbuena would be given the space to roam the midfield

Of course the one aspect that I am sure DD is contemplating is that if he plays Benzema on the left, he will be putting added pressure on his holding midfielders as well as Evra. Benzema, unlike Griezmann, does not know what playing defense means. He cannot be count on to back track and to stop the opposing teams right full back making deep runs. This is something that DD has to take into consideration, especially with the Swiss looming who has Lichtsteiner as their marauding right back. With a defensive liability already on the right - Debuchy - France might not be able to take on the challenge of having two such challenges to face.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the tunnel on Sunday.

Allez les Bleus!

Les Bleus kick off World Cup preparation with classy showing

Well I guess my prediction of a drab 1-1 draw was slightly off...France kick off their World Cup preparation with a thrilling 4-0 win over Norway. And the score line could have been worse for the Scandinavians.

The Good:

• Four goals...nothing to sneeze at. Les Bleus have struggled with scoring goals in the past, but seems that they found a key to unlock their goal scoring account, at least for 90 minutes today. Something to build on. It was encouraging to see the goals coming on some solid crosses from the flanks as well as some pacey play by the likes of Remy. It was also encouraging to seeing France's #2 striker, Giroud, score a brace. His second was from a wonder strike from the edge of the penalty box. He could have had a hat trick had his powerful header in the opening minutes gone in. Remy showed why he is on the team and could play a valuable role being used as a substitute where he can leverage his pace to break down a tired defense. He was a terrific reflex save away from getting his own brace. Scoring the 4 goals and having the offensive flow they had bodes well for the French offense confidence.
• Le Petit Velo - Valbuena, has taken the role as the #10 and run with it. The Marseilles midfielder was at the center of the action against Norway. Acting as the creative fulcrum for the French. His high work rate, dribbling, passing and willingness to take chances on the offensive end really kept Norway off balance. His 3 assists are a reflection of his value to the offense for Les Bleus. With the likes of Pogba, Matuidi and Cabaye acting as the muscle in the midfield, it allows Valbuena to roam freely in the midfield. What will be interesting is to see how he continues to interact with Ribery. Giroud's style usually has him on the last defenders' shoulder, while Griezmann added pace on the left but didn't roam too much. This gave the space that Valbuena enjoys on the right, center and left of the park. Served the team well...but might be an issue...more on that later.
• The midfield trident of Pogba, Matuidi and Cabaye. This is clearly the strength for Les Bleus. And the driving motivation for DD to lean on a 4-3-3 formation to ensure you get these three players on the pitch at the same time. Pogba is an absolute beast. It is amazing to remember that he is only 21. He scored a cheeky goal and controlled the midfield with his pace and size. Partnered with Matuidi, who seems to have a very high motor, and you have a powerful engine room for Les Bleus. With Cabaye doing a lot of the dirty work, and who can also bring a threat from distance, you have a powerful trident in the midfield. One that will determine how far Les Bleus can go in Brazil. 
• Getting one of the reservists onto the pitch. Giving Cabella his first international cap was a shrewd move for DD. The 7, now 6, reserve players should view this as added motivation (Ruffier was part of the 7 and due to Mandanda's injury is now the #2 keeper). They all know that short of injury they will not be heading to Brazil. But there is 2016 to think about and this clearly gives them a taste of what they could work for post World Cup. And for DD, it gives him some time to blood some of his prospects and heaven forbid one of his 23 get injured, he already has vetted some of his prospects. Look for DD to do this again the next two matches, as he should.

The Bad:

• Balance...even without Ribery on the pitch, France leaned heavily on the left side of the pitch. Yes Valbuena is on the right side of the pitch. But his tendency to roam, and he does a lot of that, means he sometimes vacates that right channel. And sometimes seems to be too often! It felt as if too much of France's offense was left dominant. This will only become more apparent with Ribery on that side. DD has to figure out a way to make sure that with Ribery and Valbuena on the pitch, that Le Petit Velo keeps in mind his role to support the right side of the attack. It is fine and recommended that the wingers switch sides from time to time, or even drop deeper. But, the right channel remains something that needs to be addressed.
• The central defensive pairing. After keeping a clean sheet it is difficult to criticize the defense. But I am a little nervous at what Sakho showed. I am not saying he was bad, but there were some glimpses at his bad habits. Losing the ball in dangerous areas, making some rash challenges and some risk taking. In a way with Kos he can do that, since the Arsenal man is a good stay at home defender who can clean up such errors. But if Sakho makes some of these errors against the likes of Shaqiri or Valencia it could prove very costly.

The Ugly:

• Nothing ugly about this match...maybe ugly for Norway.

So DD and France get their first preparatory match out of the way.  The 4-0 win will do the team a lot of good, they need to continue to build on this and will face a much more stern test against Paraguay. It will be interesting to see how things change if we see Ribery and Benzema find their way back into the starting line up, especially with the interactions with Valbuena.

Change in formation by Deschamps...but not to the one I suggested

Latest from the French camp, Deschamps will line up 2 strikers this Friday to face Georgia. Look for Benzema, he of a 1200 minute goalless streak, and Giroud who has been in form for his club. This will create a 4-4-2 formation:

Composition probable de l’équipe de France :
Lloris (cap.) - Sagna, Koscielny, Abidal, Evra - Valbuena, Guilavogui, Sissoko, Ribéry - Benzema, Giroud

Against a Georgia team that will most likely keep 10 if not all 11 players behind the ball, pack the box and look to counter attack France, Deschamps looks to put two strikers on the pitch to try and get a goal if not more. The reality is that with Benzema's propensity to drop deep on the field to go get the ball, is this really a 4-4-2? Or will it really be a 4-2-3-1 with Benzema drifting back in the formation? It will be imperative for the Real Madrid forward to avoid his usual habit of floating deep on the pitch...getting in the way of the likes of Ribery and Valbuena. Granted with Giroud on the pitch, hopefully the Georgia defense will not be

Together again!

able to push higher up as Giroud will most likely sit on the last defender's shoulder creating some space for Benzema, Ribery and Valbuena.

The other question mark for me is what about the right side of the formation? Valbuena has been successful by playing a more central role in the midfield. Does he have the discipline to stay wide? Not sure. If he does start drifting back to the center can Sagna offer consistent service from his right fullback position? Not sure. I have not liked the Arsenal man's crossing, I feel it leaves much to be desired. Once again I am sure the French attack will lean heavily on the left with Ribery and Evra in that channel.

This match will be no cake walk. I expect the pitch in Tbilissi to be heavy and choppy, not in great shape to slow down the French passing and speed (similar to baseball teams that let their infield grass grow a tad longer to slow down ground balls). Georgia will sit deep and look to attack France on the counter....which they are very susceptible to. Look for France to try and attack over the top, try to get the ball deep to Giroud where he can either lay it off to an on rushing player aka Benzema or one of the midfielders, or where the Arsenal man can take his chances on goal. This will call upon the likes of Evra, Sagna, Valbuena and Ribery to provide good service to the strikers.

I also want to see how Guilavogui and Sissoko handle their responsibilities. In games such as this France tend to get caught up with trying to score and as more time goes on get frustrated. Players like Ribery and Valbuena are not necessarily the most disciplined to keep their defensive responsibilities in mind. This will require the two holding midfielders to be incredible conscious of when they pinch into the offensive end, when do they jump into the attack and when do they hold back providing cover to the back line. This will be especially important when the wide fullbacks make deep runs into the attacking 1/3.

End of the day, Les Bleus should win this game. It will be more difficult than it should be, but that is par for the course with France these days. I look for a meek 1-0 win. Giroud scores the only goal, Benzema continues his scoreless streak!

Allez les bleus.

Incroyable! Les Bleus pull off a "hold up" and leave Madrid with a point

Wow. I did not expect to see this out of Les Bleus. After Ramos scored and the way Spain were playing, I was ready to turn off the game. But what a swing in the second half. And at the ultimate last minute, France somehow leave Madrid with a 1-1 draw and a point. Unbelievable! The standings after this match:

The Good:

• The draw. During qualifiers you need to look to draw away from home and win your home games, especially when faced with the defending World Cup champions and two time defending European Cup champions. Add to this the way Spain made you look in the 1/4 finals of the Euros and the fact France leave Spain with a point is huge. France and Spain are atop the group with goals being the difference. If, and that is a big IF for France, both sides hold serve, the group cold be decided when Spain come to Paris in March.
• Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham #2 keeper was nothing short of phenomenal for France. He was unlucky that his defense abandoned him on the Ramos goal but otherwise was nothing short of spectacular. He kept his nerve on the Cesc penalty kick, saved well on numerous point blank chances and anticipated some Spanish through balls - especially late in the match saving at the feet of Cesc again. Without Lloris France would have been sunk.
• France's persistence. I will admit I was surprised that the likes of Benzema and Ribery kept running at the Spanish. For once they showed 90 minutes of fire in their bellies and were rewarded for it. In the second half both Ribery and Benzema single handedly carried the attack to the Spanish. Benzema was unfortunate to not be credited with an assist on Menez's goal...which was NOT offside. But in the second half both attackers put the Spanish back line under tremendous pressure.



Oh what a goal can do for one's spirit!

• Deschamps, unlike Blanc during the Euros, kept some modicum of offense in his line up. What was very interesting was how the game tipped in the second half. The French retained the ball more and attacked quickly down the flanks with late runs through the middle. This forced the Spanish fullbacks to sit at home more, play more defensively. In doing so the Spanish attack seemed to lose some steam. What was apparent was that the Spanish were doing a lot of damage early on by holding up the ball in the middle, allowing their fullbacks to make runs from deep and forcing the French to sag deeper and deeper on the pitch. Once those fullbacks were forced to sit in their half, the French began to have greater control of the ball.
• This pains me to say...but Ramos was a rock for Spain. Not only did he score the goal but he held the Spanish defense together which at times looked completely out of sorts. He made some tough tackles and single-handily corralled Benzema on a few occasions.
• Giroud...came in late for an injured Benzema, but did what a #9 is suppose to do. Almost latched on to a cross late in the game and did latch on to the last minute cross from the Kaiser to equalize. As someone on Twitter said - Arsenal needs to find someone to cross the ball to him!

Ramos - man of the match for Spain

The Bad:

• French finishing...I realize that France scored two goals, yes one was not allowed, but it should have been. And France were playing Spain not Georgia, but they had other chances that had to be put away. Other opportunities that needed to be taken - in particular a streaking Sissoko that latched on to a Benzema cross inside the penalty spot and didn't even come close to the goal! Les Bleus still have trouble taking advantage of their chances. This must improve.
• Deschamps substitutions. Taking Menez off the pitch and introducing Sissoko was a real head scratcher for me. The introduction of Valbuena in place of Gonalons made perfect sense - you were chasing a goal. But in the 68th minute, still chasing that goal, to take out your right winger and insert Sissoko, a holding midfielder was questionable. If you are going to make that move why not bring Capoue, also a holding midfielder, but one with more offensive punch than his TFC teammate. That substitution smacked of a Domenech move...it also called into question some of the players Deschamps selected. Leaving the likes of Nasri, Ben Arfa and Remy at home deprived him of offensive options late in the game. He had plenty of defensive options on his bench. But very few offensive "jokers."
• Set piece defending...when oh when will Les Bleus learn to defend set pieces! Ramos should have scored off his header, which was completely uncontested, and then was  left unmarked to roof in the cross! This has dogged France for too long now.

The Ugly:

• The Koscielny challenge was AWFUL. He was fortunate to not have received a straight red...the official probably wanted to spare him the added humiliation! I was convinced his partner Sakho would have committed such a foul, but the Arsenal man completely butchered that situation.
• Spain's defense in the second half was ugly and leaky. Where it not for Cassillas and Ramos, the Spanish could have easily lost this game in the second half. The chink in the armor seems to be, the ability to pressure the Spanish fullbacks, force them to sit at home on defense. This creates avenues from which to attack wide, there were a number of occasions where Ribery or Evra would push down the flank which would open up lanes for secondary runs to push through. Alonso virtually disappeared the second half - he seemed to be stuck deeper on the field trying to cover for the space that was being opened up. Clearly the Spanish missed their center back tandem of Puyol and Pique.
• Busquets...and his flopping. If there is one player I cannot stand it is Busquets. Whether playing for Barcelona or Spain...he is the biggest flopper and diver next to Suarez. Every time he goes down it is as if he were shot by a sniper. Nothing compares to his play acting a few seasons ago in the Champions League against Inter, but he drives me nuts. Sad thing is he is a good player and doesn't need such theatrics.

 An unlikely point for France. But one that was well deserved. France really took the game to the Spanish in the second half and had they left Madrid with a 1-0 loss it would have been undeserved. Unlike what happened in the Euros, Deschamps did not stray from his game plan. His team absorbed the Spanish attack for the first 20 - 30 minutes. They really did not allow the Spanish to truly threaten the goal from open play (conceding on a corner). In the second half they started putting more pressure on the Spanish, particularly going after the full backs and forcing the Spanish backs deeper and therefore opening up space in the middle. France were the more dangerous team in the second half. Ribery and Sissoko both having clear scoring chances, until Giroud put his away.

This will be very interesting to see how the return leg goes in Paris. Both sides should have some of their key players back. Can Deschamps replicate this strategy back home?

Allez Les Bleus.

Les Bleus back to a 4-3-3?

Some interesting notes coming from the French camp about the starting line up for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier versus Finland. The possible formation -

The first thing that strikes me is the defensive pairing of Mbiwa and Sakho, both who go the full run versus Uruguay. To me both played a solid game against the South American nation, but there is a risk - neither has a large sample size of international games to judge what we might expect from them. A friendly in August is much different from a qualifier in Finland...

In a way, Giroud being a forfeit forced Deschamps' hand - no two headed strike force. Rather Deschamps looks to line up a 4-3-3 with Ribery on the left and Menez on the right, supporting the lone striker Benzema. The key will be the midfield - and if Cabaye and Diaby can carry the creativity and linkage from their midfield positions. Mavuba will most likely be called upon to drop deeper to provide cover to the back 4. Deschamps has gone with experience at his wide back positions with Evra and Reveillere.

What I will be watching for is can Benzema keep a high line, can he stay closer to the last defender's shoulder or will he drop deep looking for the ball? If the fullbacks, Diaby and Cabaye can get the ball up the field fast enough and keep the ball moving to the wide positions - high up the pitch - then Benzema should get the service he needs to increase his goal tally.

Les Bleus need to start fast, with a return game against Belarus, they need to target at WORST 4 points from these two matches, but really 6 points is what is expected.

Prediction: France 2 - Finland 0 goals from Menez and Ribery.

Allez Les Bleus!!

France v Uruguay...back to a two striker system?

The news from Clairefontaine is that Deschamps is leaning towards rolling out Giroud-Benzema up front. Hallelujah! If there is was one thing that was apparent during the Euros was the fact Benzema cannot help himself from dropping too deep on the pitch. This left too much space at the top of the formation, allowing the defense to pack in the space and snuff out any oxygen for the offense. With Giroud on the pitch, France will have a striker who will sit on the last defender's shoulder. This will allow for crosses to be more potent as well as opening up space for the midfield and finally give Les Bleus a "fox in the box" someone that can pounce on rebounds.

Hope to see some lethal crosses on Wednesday

So will Deschamps run a 4-4-2? Seems that way. But it may look more like a 4-2-3-1...stay with me on this. First let's look at what could be the following team Deschamps rolls out:

Lloris
Debuchy, Sakho, Mbiwa, Evra
Payet, Matuidi, Gonalons, Ribery
Benzema, Giroud

This would be a "traditional" 4-4-2...but stay with me...look for Benzema to have the freedom to do what he did at the Euros - drift deeper. Look for Payet and Ribery to push higher on the pitch, playing the wide offensive roles. This would allow for Benzema to drift and fill the hole behind the striker. Matuidi and Gonalons will act as the holding midfielders (Mavuba might also be an option to start in that role).

Deschamps could look to slot Martin on the right, but I think his tendency would be to drift back to the center of the park - potentially infringing on Benzema's space.

This formation would also allow Benzema to slot higher up the pitch, allow Ribery the freedom to drift to the middle in support of the two strikers.

If Deschamps does opt for the two strikers, it will be even more imperative for the right and left backs to push up and bring width to the attack as well as provide the adequate services of crosses to take advantage of the presence of Giroud. I will be interested to see how things work out during the training sessions.

Allez Les Bleus.

Giroud a Gunner?

Even as the Euros get ready to go into high gear, the transfer market is already heating up. The latest rumor coming out of Ligue 1 is that top scorer and newly minted French Champion Giroud is heading to North London. This would be a great move for the Frenchman and I think a good long term move for Arsenal. Will he score 25 + goals for the Gunners immediately, I do not think so, but I think after a first season of learning the ropes he will fit in nicely in England.

I really hope Wenger picks me...

He has the size and power, he is a good "fox in the box" but can also create his own scoring opportunities. Partnered with Podolski, he should present a solid strike partnership. Of course this also begs the question - what does this mean for RVP? Does Wenger believe he can get his captain to stay? If so will there be enough playing time to go around?

Clearly the futures for the likes of Chamakh and Bendtner are not at Arsenal. Neither player being able to live up to their billings. For Montpellier I fear this is just the beginning as their championship winning side will be stripped of some of its key parts. The team that takes the field will be a shell of the one that won the title, alas that does not bode well heading into a Champions League campaign.

France get the victory, but let's not get ahead of ourselves

Well at least I got the score right...just the wrong victors. Les Bleus get a famous 2-1 victory over Die Mannschaft in Bremen last night. Goals from Giroud and Malouda. France will head into the Euro preparation matches on a high note having defeated one of the tournament favorites. Of course, I am sure that the German supporters will point out that Germany were missing some key players...but so were the French. So what to make of the match?

1st Half - France were fortunate to not being down 2 or 3 goals. Ozil and his band of merry midfielders punished some sloppy French passing leading to quick counters. Were it not for Lloris, Les Bleus would have found themselves on the wrong end of the score sheet.
2nd Half - France seemed comfortable sitting back and hitting back at Germany on the counter and exposed some weakness on the German back line. Les Bleus could themselves, have scored a few more goals.

Let's dive in deeper:

The Good:

• A win,  a victory is a victory, just ask Mitt Romney. France showed that they could go into a hostile environment and win a game that at times they looked like they were going to let slip away. I was a little frustrated that they were not able to kill the game when they had a two goal advantage, but that is not uncommon these days.
• Who should be the new right back for France: Debuchy. The Lille right back was a surprise inclusion against the United States, but clearly has a little something extra the likes of Sagna and Reveilliere have failed to bring to the table - a regular offensive punch to the right side. Debuchy was incredible active all game making deep runs down the right channel and provided the assist on both French goals. He even had a cannon of a shot from distance forcing the German keeper to punch the ball to safety. France have been looking for a right back that can bring greater width and crossing to the game - ever since Sagnol retired. In my opinion Debuchy has not only punched his ticket to go to the Euros, but should be the starting right back for France.
• Giroud was inserted in the starting line up and also did well enough to earn his ticket to the Euros. The leading scorer for Ligue 1 was very active on the offensive side and actually did his fair share defensively as well, at times he seemed to be sweeping rather than Mexes. His goal was a pure striker goal, no wasted motion, nothing fancy - take a cross and simply touch it past the keeper. This does not put him above Benzema or Remy, but it gives Blanc peace of mind that he has some decent depth up front.
• France could have been down 2-0 were it not for the exploits of Lloris. He made some huge saves to bail out his defense who decided to turn over the ball for much of the first half. Saves on Klose from point blank as well as reflect save on a deflected Klose volley in addition to his command of the aerial game were more proof points of why his one of the world's best keepers. Blanc announced the Lloris would be the French captain this summer and he demonstrated why his coach had so much faith in him.
• Seeing Mexes and Rami back together at the center of the defense. Both players seemed at ease with the other which is vital for central defensive pairings. Mexes is allowed to be more free - roaming, more or a sweeper while Rami is the pit bull that sits back to defend. Assuming both stay healthy and do not punch anyone, this should be a strength for Les Bleus.
• Le Petit Velo - Valbuena - showed me something last night. He was the most dangerous and hard working attacking midfielder for Les Bleus. He could have and should have scored on two occasions for Les Bleus, had he done so I would have rated him higher. Overall I think he made a strong case for being the right midfielder for France something that he should have been allowed to do 2 years ago rather than Govou! He did pop up on the opposite flank and in the center from time to time, something that might be of service if the likes of Debuchy are behind him, this would give the Lille right back more space to run into and create some real defensive problems for France's opponents.

The Bad:

• The Manchester City playmaker, Nasri, was not fantastic. I would even venture that he was completely invisible the first half. The second half he was at least visible! What is frustrating is the fact he has one good game one off game for Les Bleus. The lack of consistency is maddening. Many of the problems France had in the first half is that their playmaker was not gaining control of the game, unlike his counter part Ozil, who was controlling the pace of the match. Les Bleus need their playmaker to be able to slow the game down or speed it up depending on the situation, Nasri did not do this the first half and it could have cost France dearly. Blanc still has some work to do with regards to who pulls the strings for Les Bleus, could this open the door for Gourcuff? Surprisingly Martin did not make his way onto the pitch to see if he could fare better. Something to watch for.
• Speaking of former Marseilles players - Ribery - wasn't exactly the Kaiser last night for France. After scoring a brace over the weekend for Bayern, he clearly forgot his good boots somewhere in Germany other than Bremen. Granted he picked up a knock early on in the game and did give it his all, but more is expected and needed from the left winger if France is to do more than site see in Ukraine - Poland this summer. He made some decent runs but just did not have the extra punch to really threaten the German goal.
• The German defense. I realize they were missing some key players, but still they allowed some terrible scoring chances and turned the ball over themselves in terrible positions on the pitch. Germany is still a favorite but they better shore up the defense. 

The Ugly:

• The French first half - Les Bleus looked awful in the first half...yes I am aware that they went into the dressing room up 1-0, but were it not for Lloris, a post and some wide shots, Les Bleus would have been down 2 of not 3 to 1 at the half. France cannot expect to go anywhere if they play like that at the Euros. Sloppy passes, silly give aways and poor defending will cost them dearly.   Had Germany been more clinical in front of the goal...it would have been ugly. In the second half Les Bleus seemed to calm down a bit and better control the game, the Germans then became a bit sloppy themselves.

Overall winning away to Germany is nothing to sneeze at, but Les Bleus need to take this in stride and realize that they did not dominate. The game showcased two talented teams, both with flaws. Both teams can cure these flaws, but France's might be more difficult to overcome...but if they can, they have the potential to be a real surprise this summer.

Allez les Bleus!

Equipe de France, in with the new - last chance to impress?

Laurent Blanc unveiled his list for the upcoming friendly matches, a few new faces, some old faces and some old faces missing. First the list:

Gardiens de but : Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Défenseurs : Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone/ESP), Matthieu Debuchy (Lille), Jérémy Mathieu (Valence, ESP), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ANG), Adil Rami (Valence/ESP), Anthony Réveillère (Lyon), Mamadou Sakho (PSG)

Milieux de terrain : Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle/ANG), Alou Diarra (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ANG), Yann M'vila (Rennes), Marvin Martin, (Sochaux), Samir Nasri (Manchester City/ANG)

Attaquants : Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Kevin Gameiro (PSG), Jérémy Ménez (PSG), Loïc Rémy (Marseille), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich/ALL), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier)

One time wonder or could there be a long term place?

The new faces (relatively) - Giroud and Mathieu. The former is the co-leading scorer in Ligue 1 with PSG striker, Gameiro with 8 goals, with that earned himself a look. With the latter making another appearance for Blanc, and this time I expect him to see the pitch as the opportunity to be cover at left back remains open (thought I fear for the Valence player it will be Abidal and Evra as the two left backs next summer)

Old faces that are not on the list - Evra, Gourcuff, Valbuena and Kaboul. The most "surprising" might be the absence of Gourcuff. He is back in form, while still has not regained his "top" form, one might have considered these upcoming games as an opportunity for Blanc to take a closer look at his overall progression. The door on Gourcuff being at the Euros might be slowly closing. If the last few games are any indication, it would appear that Blanc is going to lean on the likes of Ribery, Nasri, Menez, Martin, Cabaye and Malouda for the creative engine in the midfield. Looking for pacey players out on the wings and a creative engine - Martin or Nasri - in the middle, two players who's style appear to be more on the direct attack and leverage pace rather than the more "Pirlo" type passing of Gourcuff.

Mexes is again absent due to a hand injury he picked up, might his window be closing as well? I doubt it, but I am sure that Blanc will be looking to finalize his central defensive pairing. But the Mexes injury is not one that should keep him out of next summer's tournament.

What will be interesting to observe is what formation Blanc looks to use - with the number of strikers on the list might he go back to a 4-4-2? At the same time he has not had Benzema in a few games and not sure he sees the Real Madrid man with a strike partner rather than being the sole high striker.

These games will go a long way to determining who will be on the list next summer. Much will also depend on which formation Blanc settles on as well. I am sure he has an idea of who the core should be, the question becomes who are the players that will be leaned on for cover.