Mexes goal...clearly someone watched the Sweden v England friendly

Another ridiculous bicycle kick from outside the penalty area -

Les Bleus - Glass half empty, but the half full has some optimism

So it has been less than 24 hours and the long knives have already come out. No surprise. After being thoroughly outplayed in their last group game, coupled with a timid exit from the 1/4 finals, there plenty of ammunition for the pundits to question Les Bleus. Let's look at what we learned from France's run:

The Good:

One of the few bright spots for Les Bleus

• Reaching the 1/4 finals. I realize this is difficult to process after what we saw yesterday. However, after two disastrous tournaments - Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 - getting out of the group stages was one of France's goals. Les Bleus navigated their first two games as they should. While they could have hoped for a better result versus England, they were able to come back after being down 1-0. They then resumed regular service when they defeated co-host Ukraine 2-0. With 4 points, Les Bleus knew they had a foot into the 1/4 finals, good to take care of business from the start...not all good...more on the bad later.
• The emergence of Lloris....okay this is not a news flash! Lloris did not have much of a chance to shine in South Africa, but he showed his class at these Euros. I would only fault him on the English goal, the others he gave up were unstoppable. The Lyon keeper will be backstopping Les Bleus for many years to come. A team cannot underestimate the comfort in having a stable #1 to call on....look at what Hart is doing for England!
• A duo of M'Vila - Cabaye to build on? I realize that M'Vila struggled with an injury and at times was not able to display his full range of abilities. On the contrary, Cabaye had a coming out party at the Euros. His ability to link the defense and offense were on display in his first two games. He even opened his goal account with Les Bleus. Both players are young and look for France to build on this base in the midfield.
• Menez playing on the right. I realize we have a small sample size. However the PSG winger was one of the few offensive players who fulfilled his role. He kept the right wing occupied and allowed the French to have the width necessary to off set the tendency to lean on the left with the likes of Ribery. Menez should scored more in his game versus Ukraine, but it was his goal that unblocked the situation. There is a future for the PSG winger on the right side of the French formation. But enough about the good....let's get to the juicy part.

The Bad:

• Backing into the 1/4 finals. As I had posted prior to the Sweden game, click here for post, I thought it was very important for France to end the group stages on a win after getting the 4 points after their first two games.The fact Les Bleus were thoroughly outplayed in their game against the vikings was a bad omen for yesterday. It is unlike what happened in 2000 when France lost their last group game against co-host Holland 3-2...starting a secondary line up. France had won their first two games and knew they were headed to the 1/4 finals. Many would argue that they were happy to finish second in the group since they would stay in their location. This time around, France should have wanted to finish first - avoid facing Spain! Alas, Les Bleus exhibited some hubris and lacked the professionalism to finish out the group. The reaped what they sowed.
• I have to question Blanc's over managing at times. Of course had France come out of yesterday with the win we would all be heaping praises on his brilliance. I cannot completely throw Le President under the bus. I like the fact he was willing and able to shift strategies based on his opponents. Unlike his predecessor who would, apparently, blindly threw out the same line up. However does this gloss over a bigger problem? Did Blanc have faith in his team where he could just roll out his best formation and basically take on the challenge - strength on strength? At some level I think Blanc did not have complete faith in his team. Did not trust his best line up could beat another team's best line up. I do question starting Debuchy high on the right side. I understand the reasoning...but the reality is the Lille right back was dangerous when he was able to overlap and make runs from deep. Starting him higher on the pitch did not allow him to do accomplish this. Had Blanc really wanted more defense, why not start Matuidi? Have Debuchy play right back. Instead it felt like a round peg in a square hole. Again hindsight is 20/20. Good for Blanc to be flexible but sometimes one can over think the situation.
• France needs an on the field leader! I realize that Lloris wears the arm band, and leads through example (he is the only player who gets a good rating for all his games) but he is not a leader a la Platini, Vieira, Zidane, Deschamps or Desailly. A player that will lead not only through example but by telling teammates to get it together. Les Bleus need one...could it be Cabaye or M'Vila eventually? Maybe. But there wasn't one in Poland/Ukraine.

The Ugly:

No repeat...yet

• La Generation 87...Nasri, Benzema, Ben Arfa and to some extent Menez (although I did praise him earlier!) did not show up.  Yes Nasri scored the equalizer against England, but where was he in the other games? His tendency to drift to the center of the park left his right side vacant. He did not provide the offensive outlet the team needed. Benzema had a large number of shots and two assists against Ukraine...but he is our striker, he needs to score goals. I realize he got frustrated and dropped deeper to get the ball, but a striker can go all game with very few touches and still be effective. Look at Inzaghi! You would never hear his name for Milan or Italy and then all of sudden 3 touches and a brace! If Benzema is more comfortable playing deeper, like Ibrahimovic for Sweden, then France need to line up a true striker. Otherwise teams will just let their last bank of 4 sit deep and keep everything 10 - 15 yards in front of them. Finally Ben Arfa for his brief time on the pitch was a shell of himself. Where was the Newcastle player who ran at defenses and forced teams to their back heels? Granted he had a short run of it, but did not step into the opportunity.
• I don't think Mexes covered himself in glory. First he seemed to show up in less than ideal shape. Second he continued to make mental mistakes during the games. Finally getting that second yellow card was silly...granted it might have been for the best since I think the Spanish would have skinned him alive. But for the 30 year old defender might he have seen his international career pass him by? I was always a fan of his, I think Domenech was a fool in the way he handled the AC Milan libero during his peak years. Unfortunately we are now getting him on the back nine of his career. Alas, another legacy left by Dumbenech!
• Speaking of seeing the last of a player, I do not think that we will see Malouda for France any more. It is a shame. Flo has always been a good soldier for France. And another player that was mishandled by Domenech. I respect the reasoning behind why Blanc took the veteran Chelsea man, but his play on the field was not good. He was invisible. While it was ugly, I will thank Flo for his time and play for Les Bleus.
• Finally, speaking of ugly...what Nasri did post game was unacceptable. That was ugly.

So France head home. Not as early as the last two tournaments, but still with too many questions and doubts. There is a core to build upon. There remains some hope! I hope that Blanc stays on, he has done a lot already and changing jockeys at this point would seem counter intuitive. Allow him to build to World Cup 2014. 

France to 1/4 finals...via the back door...La HONTE!!!

C'est la honte!!!! What was that? Nothing but a disgrace from Les Bleus...I am not sure what to write other than expletives. But I will try to contain my anger....

The Good:

• Get to the 1/4 finals...through the trap door. That is about all that was good. At least France live to fight another day. If Les Bleus put together a good showing versus Spain, even....gasp beat the Spanish this loss will be a distant memory. Let us not forget that Les Bleus were heading home at this stage last two tournaments...need to focus on the sliver of positive!
• Okay I have to say the Ibrahimovic goal was amazing. Hitting a volley from that angle was nothing short of spectacular. Hats off to the Swede for that piece of artistry. No highlights yet live but check the web or TV for the replay.

Thing of beauty...

• One more "good" were it not for Lloris, France would have lost 4-0. He was the only French player that showed up today. Big saves in the second half, nothing he could do on both goals.

The Bad:

• France France France...Les Bleus were awful today. They were beyond bad. Only needing a draw they played like it. They had no heart no game no desire. France looked from the start of the game the team that was about to head home for the summer. They played flat. Unacceptable.
• Ben Arfa, was completely invisible. I was expecting him to come in and bring some real width for France. Much like what Menez did in the Ukraine game. Instead, he kept drifting back to the middle of the park. And even there he was invisible. He unleashed one strike from distance but otherwise was a complete no factor.  I expected much more from Le Petit Prince.
• No strikers for France! Yes I realize Benzema is France's striker, but really? The fact he wears #10 is very appropriate, why? Because he drops so deep really playing a #10 role. Against England and Sweden it was frustrating to see that France was facing a flat back 4 that had no threat of any striker. Once Giroud entered the game it opened up some space for the attack. I realize that Blanc said he does not want to play two strikers, but is Benzema really playing the #9?
• Mexes gets a yellow...the French libero got a silly yellow which coupled with the yellow from last game means he is out for the 1/4 finals. Wait...hold on...maybe this is good since he had some serious brain farts in this game! The Arsenal man Koscielny will get the start along side Rami this weekend.

The Ugly:

• France...see above.
• France mindset heading into 1/4 final. After having their streak of games (23 games) without a loss broke, how will Les Bleus go into their next game...against Spain? This will be a huge test for Blanc. The French manager will have his work cut out for him to get his team ready on the pitch but also mentally. Blanc needs to remind the French players what they were able to build the past 2 years, the fact they got caught in today's game must be set aside. At the end of the day all the teams in the 1/4 finals have zero wins and zero losses...

What a frustrating game...France played like crap and deserved to lose. No heart. No desire. Too many players looked like they were thinking about the 1/4 finals and not the game. Maybe this is a wake up call and gets them to play like they can, or maybe this is an indication of the malaise that has hung over Les Bleus since South Africa...we shall see. Blanc has his work cut out for him.

Allez les Bleus...

France - Estonia: Building momentum

I have been remiss for not posting on the France v Estonia match, the last one prior to the start of the Euros. But sometimes life gets in the way of my publishing! Here are my thoughts:

The good:

Keys to France's fortunes

• I realize I sound like a broken record - the victory. Granted France were playing a smaller side in international football - 57th in the FIFA world rankings. The nation still finished second in their qualifying group, behind Italy. They ended up being thumped by Ireland in the playoff. But let us not forget what it was like during the warm up matches for the World Cup in 2010 - France lost to China! That threw everything into a tail spin, granted Dumbenech didn't help the situation and deciding to start Gouvou...sorry I digress. Heading into the Euros on a high note is a positive.
• Benzema and Ribery - These two have been linked at times for all the wrong reasons, but the fact both got goals is very positive. The fact that Kaiser Frank has scored in three straight games for Les Bleus is even more positive. After not scoring for France in too long, he now seems on a nice streak. Granted he will be facing a slightly tougher opponent on Monday, but he must be heading into the tournament full of confidence. The same for Benzema. After a very successful season at Real Madrid, I wanted to see him score for France before the start of the tournament. 4 years ago he headed into the Euros with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, which he still has. However playing at the highest levels with Real Madrid, having to battle for his place on the squad have allowed him to mature. Getting a brace against Estonia is just what the doctor ordered. He also had a nifty flick on for the Ribery goal.
• The 4-3-3 seems to be working well for Les Bleus, at least offensively. Scoring 9 goals in 3 games is a very positive sign. The freedom the formation gives to the offensive players has allowed them the freedom to exploit their offense. The move of Malouda to a deeper role seems to be working out very well. The question remains - is the system solid defensively? More on that later.
• No one got hurt! This cannot be understated, while it looked like Diarra might give us a scare early on, end of the day none of the players picked up any last minute knocks. All you have to do is look at France's first opponent - England - and see what injuries can do to your squad.

The Bad:

• While not necessary bad, it is not good either...but I am still waiting to see the right side of the offense take the next step. Nasri continues to be a bit maddening in his inconsistency. At times he looks like the player we always expected him to be - able to play the right wing, slot to the middle, drop deep and bring an offensive touch to the side. Unfortunately at times he seems to disappear as well. I am also not convinced of his interplay with Debuchy, the Lille right back makes some very dangerous runs from deep, but I am not sure that Nasri is quite there yet with how to interact with him. We know that Nasri has it in him, but can he be consistent? The one saving grace is that Blanc has a number of options he can throw on the right in games to change the pace - Ben Arfa, Menez and Valbuena can all operate on the right side.
• Of course on the left side I am concerned about Evra. He does not seem to have the confidence a player of his stature should have. I believe Blanc will stick with him because of his experience, but he is at times a tad shaky. His offensive runs are still useful but on defense he is not the defender we are accustomed to seeing patrolling the left side for Manchester United.

 The Ugly:

• Speaking of defense...Mexes is starting to give me some concern. There have been whispers of he being out of shape and too "fat." Whether or not his weight is an issue, the fact remains that the AC Milan man has had some gaffs, which against a sterner opponent will not go unpunished. As with Evra, Blanc will stick with his core. Mexes has the talent and ability, the question is he paying for being injured much of the year in Italy? If the central defense gets leaky, this could get very ugly.
• This is not helped by the current 4-3-3. I realize I stated I thought the 4-3-3 is good, and it is, but defensively it still needs some work. Unlike the formation and how it was leveraged away to Bosnia, where Blanc deployed 3 holding midfielders: Diaby, M'Vila and Diarra. He now has 1 true holding and 2 hybrid holding players...The question is, can Malouda and Cabaye be disciplined enough to pace themselves when it comes to their offensive runs? Both players will have to be very conscious of their defensive responsibilities otherwise we might see the equivalent of run and gun!

Overall there is much to like from this last match. But none of this counts come June 11th. France will have a massive task ahead of it. Look for the Frog's Euro predictions coming out soon!

Allez Les Bleus

Another win for Les Bleus - but a big time scare early on

So France march on with another victory in preparation for the Euros. This one much easier than the first against Iceland. Yet it too had some scary moments...right from the beginning!

The Good:

• Like I stated after the Iceland game...a win is a win. Unlike the Iceland game, Les Bleus came out with their dancing shoes on and quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead and it could have been 3-0 at the half hour mark had Benzema been able to react to a deft Ribery pull back. But the game was much easier for France overall and the victory well deserved.
• Speaking of Ribery, another goal and really a fantastic match for the Kaiser. Ribery started this match in his preferred left attacking spot. He and Clichy seem to click immediately, the Manchester City left back jumping into the offense allowing width to the attack. On the Ribery goal it was a nice little overlap from Clichy after Ribery had drawn 3 defenders that opened up the space. Ribery was then able to run to the open space left by the Serbian defenders, follow up on a dangerous cross from Clichy and finish with a powerful volley. In addition, Ribery was allowed to float and interchange with Malouda and Nasri, really popping up all over the field. Scoring two goals in two games has to be good for the Bayern man, he looks ready to have a good tournament.
• One has to give a tip of the cap to Malouda and Nasri as well. The Chelsea man had a wonder goal from distance, showing a willingness to shoot, something too few midfielders seem to do these days. Like Ribery, Malouda allowed himself to run to space and take what the Serbian defense gave him. The same can be said for Nasri. While he tried to maintain his position on the right, he too allowed himself to take what was given. At times two of the midfielders found themselves stacked on the same side, but not an issue when the defense was giving that space away.
• Lloris was once again solid. It is easy to overlook sometimes the consistency of the Lyon keeper. He was called upon to make some above average saves, in particular on a free kick early in the second half. His play and steady hand will be vital to keeping the French well grounded from the back.
• The wide players - Clichy and Reveillere - both played solid games. Giving Blanc some good options for who he wants to lean on for left and right fullbacks. I still put my money on Debuchy on the right but on the left Clichy could play his way over Evra.

The Bad:

• Midfield work in progress...why bad? Because there are 11 days until the start of the tournament! I think the Ribery - Nasri - Malouda midfield was good...but I think there remains work to be done. I am not sure that with Nasri you have enough balance between the left and right side. Nasri tends to like to come back to the middle and while Malouda and Ribery pop up on the right, the real threats are from the left. Does this mean Ben Arfa is the solution on the right? I do not know. And that is bad this late in the game.
• Benzema...might be a surprise but I think his lack of finishing is a bit disconcerting. He had a clear 1 v 1 early on, while the keeper made a decent save, a striker of Benzema's caliber needs to make the keeper work harder for a save. He also had a clear opening when Ribery showed some twinkle toes on the end line, granted it wasn't the easiest ball to handle, but again player of his level should at least get a foot to it.

The Ugly:

• M'Vilas ankle...ouch. After 44 seconds it looked as if a key part of Blanc's set up could be done. Seeing the Rennes midfield on the bench sobbing after being taken off at the 4th minute was also a tad nerve wracking. M'Vila has become one of Blanc's main players and one quickly sees why when he is on the pitch. He provides cover for the back 4 and adds steel to the midfield. France could go far if he plays and plays well, without him there is definitely a lost element.  Thankfully all reports indicate the injury will not keep him out the Euros. 
• Yellow cards .... for Mexes. Ribery played in two games and scored twice, Mexes has played in two games and recieved...two yellow cards. These do not mean anything now, but once the games start for real if begins to pick up yellows it will not be good for France. Especially since Blanc only has three natural center backs. Something that could get ugly if not controlled. 

Again a win. First half was very good. France played simple and fast, constantly putting Serbia on their back heels. The second half it appeared that fatigue caught up to both sides and we fell into a lackluster international scrimmage. That is fine as long as you win and do not get hurt!

One more before we start for real.

Lloris the captain...by default

Laurent Blanc has long avoided the question of who will become the captain for France. Instead he has rotated his captains amongst - Lloris, Mexes, Diarra, Abidal and Malouda (I might have forgotten one...). The latest to get the arm band on a regular basis is Lloris. The Lyon keeper does not necessarily fit the profile. His talent is unquestionable, but he is a quiet leader. It does appear that he is becoming the choice for captain, a but by default.

• Malouda - he is one of the players that experienced the Berlin final in 2006, but he is not a clear starter (Ribery offers competition for the left wing slot).
• Diarra - Blanc's captain while at Bordeaux but also not a clear starter for the French, plus his form has dipped as of late. Difficult to give him the arm band when you do not always pencil him in to the starting 11.
• Abidal - some lingering South African clouds hang over the Barcelona defender. When healthy, he is a clear starter either on the left or in the center of the defense. But cannot seem to entirely shake that legacy from South Africa.
• Mexes - I believe that the former AS Roma defender could have a strong case for wearing the arm band. In a strange way the manner in which he was handled by Dumenech makes him a great candidate - a player who has great ability but who understands what it means to fight through adversity. Unfortunately with his knee injury he has been sidelined allowing others to gain ground.

For the time being it appears that Lloris is the choice to wear the arm band, I think that he is a reluctant captain and the reality is he is holding the role until a true team leader emerges - M'Vila?

Mexes injury - set back for Les Bleus

Such is life in professional sports...well all sports for that matter. Injuries. There is never a good time for an injury. The latest one suffered for Les Bleus is the torn ACL from France's sweeper - Mexes. He will miss the remainder of the AS Roma season, which means he could have also played his last game for the Rome squad (he is out of a contract and rumored to be heading to England or Milan). Mexes will also miss the upcoming matches for France. Will this be detrimental to Les Bleus? The one match of significance will be the visit to Belarus on June 3rd, otherwise he will miss 2 friendlies. Blanc and Les Bleus should be able to navigate these upcoming games without Mexes, but it is a set back. Why? It has been clear that Blanc is leaning on and building his squad around Lloris - Mexes - Rami. While this trio has looked very solid the past few games, their time together is still under 1 year. With the Euros coming up next year every game and every opportunity for this trio to work together is crucial to the long term success of Les Bleus.

In the near term, Blanc will need to figure out who to pair with Rami as central defender, both options are talented...but young: Sakho and Koscielny. Based on what Blanc did earlier I would see Sakho as the first option. Let us hope for a rapid recovery for Mexes, in the mean time Blanc will need to figure out who is the obvious second lieutenant at central back.

France secure the essential - 3 points - style points do not count!

Les Bleus come out of their match versus Luxembourg with the essential - 3 points. What matters is the score sheet, unlike Olympic figure skating, there are no points for beauty and style! Thankfully. Not that France played an ugly game, just could have been expected do to more with what they had. Les Bleus secure their spot on top of their group, but much work remains:

The highlights:




The Good:

• 3 points....yes that is simplistic but that is the most important take away for France. Did anyone harp on the fact France defeated Andorra 1-0 in the 2000 Euro qualifiers? For those who have forgotten, France went on to qualify and win Euro 2000. After a poor start to the campaign, Les Bleus have won all their matches and have secured themselves at the top of Group D.



Le President thinking about tactics

• It was refreshing to see the manager adapt his tactics to the opponent, what do I mean by this? Unlike Domenech who always stuck with 2 holding midfielders, Laurent Blanc was open to trying a more offensive side versus a nation he knew would park the bus in front of their goal. Granted Gourcuff was slotted deep, similar to a holding midfielder next to M'Vila, but that tactic had offense in mind much more than another midfield destroyer to slow down the opponent's attack. Similar to when France traveled to Bosnia and Blanc rolled out a 4-3-3 with 3 holding midfielders, completely snuffing out the oxygen for the Bosnian midfield. I understand a manager wants to find his tactics and stick to them, but being able to have some adaptability is also vital. You build on a core of players and allow the tactics to revolve around them depending on the situation.
• Mexes and Rami, once again demonstrated how vital they are to France's aspirations and showed again why Blanc has given them the keys to the central defensive pairing for Les Bleus. Mexes added a goal as well and Rami was very present on free kicks putting on two decent headers on the Luxembourg goal. Unlike Domenech, Blanc understands the importance to allowing your central defensive pairing to take form and build. So far so good, keep it going. Les Bleus need to continue building on this success, it really is the key to how well they could do next summer.

The Bad:

• Kick and run....even with a more offensive and technically aware line up, I felt that Les Bleus tried to mirror an old style England or Scottish team....thump the ball high and far and hope your striker latches on to the ball. Luxembourg played 9 players behind the ball, at times backing off deep into their own end not even pressuring at the half way line. This allowed the likes of Mexes, Rami and M'Vila to move the ball up from deep. Rather than look to string some short passes - on the ground - they would too often look to thump deep balls to Benzema or Ribery or Malouda. Too often these would go long, fall into harmless areas or find themselves in the arms of the Luxembourg keeper. France had too much technical talent on the pitch to revert to such tactics they should have looked to play short passes - square passes - keep probing the defensive shell. It is incredibly difficult for any team to consistently defend. At some point openings will show and diagonal passes will open up. Look at what Barcelona does....they are not afraid to knock the ball around, play keep away and once you show a seem put a through ball in for Villa or Messi. 
• Because of the kick and run, the wingers did not get involved enough. Malouda and Ribery seemed invisible for much of the game. The full backs were also not as active as I would have liked it - Evra and Sagna did have some forays up the pitch, but more was required. The pace on the wings should have been better utilized.
• France finishing, a 2-0 score line versus the 117th ranked nation would not be seen as a huge offensive success. It was not so much the lack of chances, granted there were few, but on the occasions France did have in front of goal they did not show the clinical finishing one would hope. Case in point, Benzema makes a de-cleating move on a Luxembourg defender to find himself 1v1 versus the keeper but shots poorly allowing another defender to come back and counter the shot. Must get that ball through to goal...and finish!
• I am starting to wonder if Gourcuff will ever regain the promise he had a few season ago. The Lyon play maker was slotted deeper, which I think could work for him, but he seemed tentative and forced the game. Granted he did tally another goal and he did some interesting things. But he still seemed to be forcing his game. What made him integral to France a few years back was he was one of the few players with the vision and guile to try the last pass or flick on...now it feels like he is looking to do this too often rather than allowing the game to come to him. He did the same against Brazil where at one point he tried to take on 3 defenders and step over himself to get through...rather than protect possession and look to recreate. In this match he tried too often to launch long through balls, looking to spring an offensive strike from 35 meters rather than contend himself with simple triangle passes, square passes and even back passes to reset. He still has the potential and talent, but must stop forcing his game.

The Ugly:

• The Ribery effect...the first game back for Ribery and Evra after the South Afrian fiasco. So why ugly? The debate of where Ribery should play reared its ugly head again. Starting the match the Bayern winger was on the right and Malouda on the left. The last 20 minutes of the match Ribery found himself on the left, his preferred spot, and clearly his game moved up a level. It was his run that led to the second goal. He was very dangerous making runs at the defense whereas in the first part of the game it was almost invisible. So once again we have the ugly debate of where should Ribery play? Malouda seemed firmly entrenched on the left, but that is where the Kaiser does his best work. With Remy, Valbuena and Menez, Blanc has solid right sided wingers he can leverage...unlike Domenech and Gouvou, so there is no need to shoehorn Ribery on the right as a stop gap. Blanc could even opt to slot Nasri out to the right. I realize it is a good problem to have but it will force Blanc to wrestle with what is his best formation, and can he afford to have Malouda on the bench?

Les Bleus are sitting in a good position. They have not dropped points since they lost to Belarus to start the qualifiers. They won one of their tougher matches, away to Bosnia. However much work is to be done, France cannot afford to drop any points to the likes of Albania or Romania, neither will be easy. Especially considering they must travel to both - they also have to go to Belarus who already defeated France at Stade de France. They do have the last match against Bosnia at home, and they remain the biggest threat to France. But I hope that by then France have secured the top spot of the group.

Group D

			Home			Away			Total
	Teams	P	W	D	L	W	D	L	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	France	5	2	0	1	2	0	0	4	0	1	8	1	7	12
2	Belarus	5	1	1	0	1	1	1	2	2	1	3	1	2	8
3	Albania	5	2	1	0	0	1	1	2	2	1	4	4	0	8
4	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4	1	0	1	1	1	0	2	1	1	6	4	2	7
5	Romania	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	0	2	2	2	5	-3	2
6	Luxembourg	5	0	1	2	0	0	2	0	1	4	0	8	-8	1

Bosnia and Romania have a game in hand so the standings will look very different once those matches are played. Assume Bosnia win that match they are only 2 points behind Les Bleus, if that holds until the final game, France will not be assured of qualification until then...like I said - Much work to be done.

Allez les Bleus.

France v Brazil - a win is a win.

I was finally able to watch the France v Brazil match in its entirety - wifi came back - and will have to say it was an entertaining match. One can never discount the physiological benefits of defeating a side such as Brazil, even if they were a man down for 50 minutes. France are now on 5 straight victories with 9 goals for and only 1 against, including wins against England at Wembley, Bosnia at Sarajevo and now Brazil. Highlights of the game and thoughts from the Frog:



The Good:

• As I stated above, a win over Brazil is always good. Truth be told, I think Les Bleus deserved the victory, man advantage or not. Les Bleus played a smart match - weathered the Brazilian storm in the first half allowing the Samba boys to control the tempo but really not giving up any chances. Alves did force Lloris into a "fumbly" save on a hard straight on shot early on in the game, but otherwise the only other real chance for Brazil was a Robinho shot that should have forced at least a save from Lloris but instead sailed high into the Parisian sky. The second half Les Bleus took what was given to them, a man advantage and the left side of the Brazilian formation vulnerable. Good for France to recognizing and taking advantage of this as the goal of the victory came from an attack off that side. 
• Karim Benzema was very good. The second half seemed to be owned by the Real Madrid striker. After scoring the French goal on what was truly a simple tap in after Menez squared a beautiful ball, once again attacking down the left side of the Brazilian formation, Benzema within a span of 5 minutes forced some big saves twice from the Cesar - 56th and 61st minutes. Even his miss-hit cross off his left foot beat Cesar and almost found itself in the back of the goal. What was impressive to me, as well as other pundits, was the willingness of Benzema to take chances, run at defenders and not be afraid of failure. I realize that at the international level this is what you expect from players, however based on what is currently happening at Real Madrid, you might expect Benzema to take on the same attitude. You wonder what would happen if Mourinho, like Blanc, would stick with the young striker and let him get some run in rather than yo-yo between the bench and the starting line up. Quietly Benezema has been on a bit of a scoring run - 4 goals for Les Bleus in the last 4 matches. Granted he could have had a brace or more against Brazil, but the fact he forced 2 strong saves from Cesar to go with his goal and those are encouraging signs. Benzema now has 12 goals in 33 games for Les Bleus...not too bad: 0.36 goals per game (Henry was at 0.42, Zidane 0.28, Trezeguet 0.47 and Platini 0.57 - granted Fontaine had an absurd 1.42 goals per game...).
• The other Frenchman that had a superb match was Mexes. The AS Roma defender was an absolute rock at the back. He made some aggressive tackles, was often there to clean up the mess and demonstrate a willingness to pinch up into the attack taking space when made available. His partnership with Rami, while not even 10 games old, has clearly stabilized the French back 4. He completely shut down his fellow Serie A player, Pato, making strong tackles and marking the Milan striker out of the game. Clearly his strong and physical play did effect some of the Brazilian attacks, truly being the enforcer on the back line. Much like Benzema, it is evident that this player's game greatly benefits with playing for a manager that respects him and will give him the opportunity to play and develop. Something Domenech could not figure out, never really understanding how to leverage Mexes. Alas what could have been....but better late than never.
• I have to mention a Brazilian - Julio Cesar. I have been one of his biggest critics never really prepared to name him the world's best keeper but against France he demonstrated why he is in the conversation. He made some strong saves on Benzema in the second half as well as some strong play through out the game. On an early French cross that had eyes for both Mexes and Benzema was deftly parried away from an outstretched Cesar. Without the Inter keeper Brazil might have suffered a larger defeat at Stade de France.
• Finally once again it is evident that having Laurent Blanc managing Les Bleus is good. I cannot reiterate what a difference 6 months makes. After 6 painful years of dealing with Dumbenech it is so brutally evident what a waste that time was when observing how Blanc goes about managing this side. Blanc is building back the side that Domenech so clumsily mismanaged. Blanc has given players like Mexes and Benzema the confidence necessary to begin to play up to the level we always expected they could all the while infusing some fresh blood - M'Vila, Remy, Cabaye and Menez to name a few. Granted, all this good will means nothing if France do not qualify for the Euros or crash out in the first round like they did the last two tournaments. Yet Le President is quickly making us forget Domenech as well as giving all France fans reason to hope for bright days ahead.

The Bad:

• Jeremy Menez, okay he was not bad...it was his great move and cross that  handed Benzema the French goal on a platter, so why do I put him in this category? Because he was invisible in the first half! What was frustrating to me was watching him for a 15 minute span in the second half where he was aggressive and attacked the Brazilian defense. I realize the second half saw a Brazilian squad down to 10 men and more space, but that does not mean you have to be passive when facing 11 men...I am sure that when Roma plays they tend to face the full 11 men squads and Menez is aggressive then! The right side of the French attack remains a question mark - Valbuena seems to be the choice, but he is not a lock. Could Nasri be there, sure, but I think he will be used more in the center of the park. Therefore there is a good opportunity for a player such as Menez to make some headway. He did show me something during that second half, I just wished he had not waited 45 minutes before turning it on.
• Sagna...not the player but his crosses. Overall the Arsenal man played well and was strong in his channel defending and supporting the attack. But his crossing remains a huge issue. He has the ability to get up into the attack, had some good moments with Menez, but once again could not provide consistent crosses. Frustrating.
• Gourcuff and Malouda. Neither have been able to recapture some of their top level form from a few seasons ago. The Lyon play maker did have a superb flick on to Benzema in the first half (9th minute), taking a pass from Malouda, Gourcuff deftly flicked the ball between two Brazilian defenders onto the path of Benzema. The latter should have done better and forced some work out of Cesar. Unfortunately after that action Gourcuff went back into his frustrating form of late - appear to be pushing and forcing the game. The same with the Chelsea winger. Malouda worked hard and trying to be involved in the game but his touch let him down with sloppy passes and poor turn overs. These two players have too much talent in their boots to play this poorly.

The Ugly:

• The red card! It was not ugly because it was not deserved but more for the act. Hernanes deserved the sending off with a very clumsy and reckless challenge - studs high right into Benzema's chest! What was really ugly for me was the fact it was equally egregious as the move by De Jong in the World Cup finals which did not get the Dutch goon a red card. In the end it did not cost the Spanish but what if Holland had won when they really should have gone down to 10 players!
  
  
  
  
• The condition of the pitch was terrible! I realize Stade de France hosted a 6 nations match earlier this week, but that was not a pitch for an international match. I know this would never happen but when the federation knows that they will be following up a rugby match maybe they should go back and play at Parc des Princes. I realize the smaller capacity would reduce the gate, but at least the pitch would be of better quality.
• What was up with that kit for Lloris??? The retro France look provided by Nike is growing on me, but the strip for the keeper looks like a fancy prisoner outfit with the stripes....or a misplaced sailor outfit.
• Back to back defeats for the Selecao. Brazil has lost back to back against hated rivals Argentina and now France a team that they have not defeated in the past 7 games! The Brazilian manager, Menezes, is coming under heavy pressure with a few months to go before Copa America. I would say this for the Brazilian manager, much like his French counterpart he realizes that he must rebuild and get some of his younger players into the side now if they are too be ready for the World Cup in 2014. Brazil should do well at the Copa America, and unlike the Euros there is no qualifying and sides like Brazil and Argentina really should make the semifinals (since 1989 Brazil has made it at least as far as the semis). Granted it is a trophy and not one to ignore. But with the next World Cup being held on Brazilian soil and the fact Brazil have crashed out of the last two editions in the 1/4 finals, Menezes realizes that the World Cup 2014 is what really matters. I hope that the Brazilian federation allows him to see through his ideas and plan, regardless of what happens in friendlies and at the Copa. Otherwise Brazil might be scrambling to put together the right team to seek World Cup glory on home soil.

Back in French side soon?

A good win for France. Of course I am not ready to thrust France back into the elite. There remains work to be done. Blanc needs to figure out his midfield and who will be given the keys to the car. Gourcuff is forcing his game right now and seems out of sorts. Malouda has been shaky. Menez too timid. Could a healthy Ribery come back into the picture? Nasri is clearly an option, but one has to hope he can stay healthy. Valbuena will have something to say from the right side, but what combination clicks will be something Blanc must find. Benzema seems to be growing in confidence up front but he must make the most of the chances he creates and is afforded. One goal is nice, but not as nice as a brace or a hat trick! Defensively I think Les Bleus are solid - the back 4 for the past two games seems to be a pillar to build on - Diarra, M'Vila and Diaby are all strong options as the holding tandem. Finally in goal, Lloris is ready to be the France keeper for years to come.

As I stated above, a win is a win, coming against Brazil one cannot complain. There remains much work to be done and France must continue to work and build on these successes. However, Blanc and his team must not forget that a few games ago they lost on this same pitch to Belarus. After 6 years of Domenech and of disappointment, the national team's psyche and mine, remains fragile - one slip up in qualifiers and much of the work accomplished could be damaged. I do trust that Blanc realizes this and will not allow complacency. Les Bleus are heading in the right direction, something that could not be said last summer!

Allez les Bleus!

France v Brazil - initial thoughts - "small victory"

Okay I will admit I was only able to catch parts of the second half of yesterday's 1-0 victory by Les Bleus over Brazil. I was planning on watching the replay on ESPN3.com but my wifi was terrible last night...I will be watching this evening so look for the Frog's detailed thoughts later today.
Some thoughts on what I was able to see and cobble together:

• Benzema is looking stronger and stronger as he stays in confidence with Laurent Blanc. He scored again last night and could have added another. Unlike Domenech, who did not show any consistency with players, Blanc clearly gets the fact you need to settle on your core and stick with them - through peaks and valleys. Let them work themselves into form.
• Same can be said about Mexes and Rami, under Domenech France had more center back combinations than a rubik's cube. Both Mexes and Rami have been paired together since Blanc's first game in charge and it shows. Both players appear to be building a strong working relation and both have elevated their game, Mexes in particular. Sad to say, but watching him yesterday is slightly frustrating when you think that Domenech never put faith in him and rather constantly forced a round peg into a square hole by slotting Abidal there.
• Speaking of Abidal - solid work at left back....are you watching Domenech?
• Lloris - steady as he goes, strong save end of the game at the feet of Hulk.

Look for deep thoughts from The Frog once I can watch the game in its entirety. I will take any win over a team like Brazil, even if they were a man down for 45 minutes! 

What formation and who walks out onto the Wembley pitch for France?

Both France and England head into tomorrow's friendly dealing with injuries to their defensive core - Terry and Cole for England and Mexes for France. This might be unfortunate for Blanc and Les Bleus since it would have been a good test for Rami-Mexes to go up against the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard et al. Instead Blanc will have to decide which of his center backs he wants to give some time to against England - Sakho would appear to have the club house lead to start tomorrow. The young PSG defender has all the signs of being a great central defender for club and country for many years to come....maybe that club will be Arsenal soon...

Kaboul has been called up for cover but not sure the Tottenham man will get his chance to earn his first French cap in the town he plays his club football. Or could Abidal find himself back at central defense? That would be the irony of ironies. However I think we will see Sakho - Rami pairing in central defense. Other intrigue - who will start on the right and left of the defense? Reveillere scored some points last match when Sagna had to withdraw and Clichy has not cemented his spot on the left side of the defense. Could we see Reveillere on the right and Abidal on the left? Too be determined.

The midfield will also be interesting - diamond formation or 2 holding players with 3 offensive players? If Blanc goes with the former I could see M'Vila or ADiarra as the holding player with Nasri/Valbuena out on the right, Malouda on the left with Gourcuff/Nasri at the top of the diamond. Blanc goes with the former and M'Vila-ADiarra as the holding tandem with a offensive 3 of Malouda - Gourcuff - Nasri.

As for the striker(s) - Benzema will most likely feature and if he has a strike partner look for Hourau to get another chance to start based on his recent club form. Although I could also see Blanc look to Remy to add another element of pace to the French front line, especially with ACole injured.

I think Blanc will go with the 4-2-3-1

Lloris
Clichy - Sakho - Rami - Sagna
M'Vila - ADiarra
Malouda - Gourcuff - Nasri
Benzema

Blanc will then insert Reveillere and Abidal as his wide defenders for the second half giving the Arsenal tandem just one half of action. Blanc will look to M'Vila/ADiarra tandem to snuff out any offense and attacks that might come from the likes of Gerrard - Lampard. The question will be can the offensive midfield create the space and offense necessary for Benzema to get his goal chances?

I hope we have a good match, but with this "break" being short I fear that both sides will be cautious - although the English might role out a young and inexperienced side, so they may want to make an impression on Capello so that could give the game a spark.

Prediction -  France 0 England 0

Allez les Bleus

Blanc moving towards a 4-4-2: Menez on the right?

Without the services of his 3 "natural" play-makers - Gourcuff, Ribery and Nasri - it would appear that Blanc is moving towards leveraging a normal 4-4-2 with a flat middle 4. Opposed to the 4-4-2 diamond that was leveraged during the Norway game where M'Vila sat at the base of the diamond as the solo holding midfielder and Nasri at the top of the diamond as the play-maker. 

Blanc will apparently lean on his wide players to carry the play making role, with Malouda on the left and Menez potentially on the right. The other option for the right would be Valbuena. Remains to be seen how Blanc goes with the

right side of the midfield. ADiarra and Diaby will hold the middle 2 slots in the midfield providing cover for the back 4,  wonder if M'Vila will slot in rather than Diarra? Up front, it appears that Hourau and Remy will once again get the nod to start, partially due to Benzema picking up a knock and I am sure Blanc wants to see the tandem on the pitch again.

Finally the back will have the same center back partnership (Mexes - Rami) with the return of World Cup players on the wings and in goal: Sagna, Clichy and Lloris.

It will be interesting to see if the two wide midfielders can carry on the play making for France. The formation might make Clichy and Sagna less free to push high up the pitch. With a striker like Hourau the crosses from the wings will be crucial to unlocking the opposition allowing Remy to play off his position. If Malouda and Menez can carry the game and allow the wide channels to be opened at appropriate times permitting the fullbacks to push higher and send in crosses, this might create the necessary offensive push to bag a few goals.

Probably line up:
Lloris - Sagna, Rami, Mexès, Clichy - A. Diarra, Diaby - Ménez, Malouda - Rémy, Hoarau.

France v Norway: The Blanc era starts with a 2-1 loss, but lots of positive to take from the match.

The Laurent Blanc era started...unfortunately with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Norway. Then again Norway is ranked 22nd and France 21st so not a huge upset! There were some encouraging aspects of the match, some usual problems but overall a better outlook than when we last saw Les Bleus. Some thoughts:

The Good:

• Fresh faces - Once Laurent Blanc decided to leave the World Cup 23 at home we knew there would have to be an infusion of new talent. With Ruffier, Rami, M'Vila, Hourau, N'Zogbia, Menez, Cissokho and Cabaye getting their first caps it was refreshing to see a team with the drive and effort that comes from new blood. A much better site to see than what we last saw from Les Bleus. Maybe the World Cup 23 can learn something from this match in terms of what it means to put on your nation's jersey.
• Speaking of fresh faces, the central defensive tandem of Mexes and Rami was very promising. The Lille central defender was solid in the back and was very strong in the air clearing a number of crosses and high
  
  
  passes into the box. He also brought an aerial threat on offense. What was most refreshing about watching him play was his lack of fear when it comes to sticking his cranium in hazardous places, a skill I am sure his manager respects since that was a strength of Laurent Blanc when he played. The pairing with Mexes worked well with the AS Roma player showing his quality bringing the ball out of the defensive end of the pitch for France. On many occasions Mexes was used as a launching pad for the offense, and he was very comfortable pushing into the offensive side of the pitch to bring his support to the attack. Mexes is at time overly aggressive on defense, but in the end he gets the job done. 
• Mexes as captain. While I am not sure this is a long term solution, the fact Blanc gave the arm band to Mexes was brilliant. To me it was a statement to Mexes who has long lived with the label of great potential for France but not living up to the hype. Blanc sent the message: "Act and play like a captain and you will have a chance to build with this team, now is your chance, seize it." Clearly the message resonated with the AS Roma player, and it might be the very thing he needs to take the next step with Les Bleus.
• The generation 87, since winning the U17 Euros in 2004, much has been expected of this generation. For whatever reason, Domenech could not find a way of building around the likes of Menez, Benzema, Nasri and
  
  
  Ben Arfa. It was encouraging to see all of them on the pitch together for the senior France team. Each brings his individual skill set that Blanc and Les Bleus can lean up. The qualities of Benzema and Nasri are well documented - although the Real Madrid man needs to demonstrate he is back on the path we saw when he was at Lyon as a pure goal scorer. Menez demonstrated his ability to play on the wing and bring width and pace to the attack. While Ben Arfa demonstrated his pure dribbling talents, breaking down the Norwegian defense and creating his own shots. Now up to them to demonstrate their value and worth for the national side. 
• M'Vila, the Rennes central midfielder and U21 France captain provide a glimpse at his vast talents and potential. He played better in the first half as the lone holding midfielder, more on that later, but overall gave a slight glimpse of the potential he possess. He was strong in his tackles and linked well with the attack. At 20 years old the future for him is very bright. 
• No more Domenech!!!!! All together now "The Domenech era is OFFICIALLY over!!!" Even suffering through a loss the fact that when the camera panned to the side lines I saw Laurent Blanc standing there and not inspector Clouseau, made me feel good. In just the past 3 days I feel a breath of fresh air has been infused into the FFF. You can see the difference in the press conferences, interviews, the tactics and the in game management. I saw a Laurent Blanc that took advantage of every minute he had with this squad, understanding that for him to do his job well he cannot afford to waste caps on players, waste a practice or a game. This is no more evident in the fact Blanc clearly wanted to work two systems in the Norway game, he wanted to allow his back 4 (especially the central pairing) to get as much real game action as possible and he wanted to ensure he used his substitutes wisely to have the combination of players on the field in the system that would allow him the most information. Unlike Domenech who in one of his last games in charge prior to the World Cup called up some new faces, but rather than put them on the pitch to at least see what they could do in game situations used the same old tired tactics that had gotten him ... nothing. What a novel idea, if you call up players...play them. Of course, and I am sure Blanc is well aware of this, France cannot afford to lose games come September 3rd otherwise this good will towards Blanc will rapidly evaporate.

The Bad:

• France lost 2-1. That is bad. No game should be seen as a throw away, where the result does not matter. Clearly Blanc is of the same opinion. France had their chances: a great 50 - 50 ball won by N'Zogbia in the 17th minute which he then put a perfect left footed cross on the head of a diving Remy, forcing an emergency save from Knudsen. Had the OGC Nice striker hit his shot a foot either direction it would have beaten the keeper. 13 minutes later the Toulouse midfielder Sissoko forced another strong save on a volley destined for the upper 90. Ruffier did make a strong save in the first 15 minutes to keep the game level. However overall the first half belonged to Les Bleus. Unfortunately the second half saw the Norwegians take advantage of two defensive errors leading to the 2 goals for the victory. Never good as a manager to start your tenure 0-1, but I am sure Blanc will build from the positive we saw today.
• 4-2-3-1 formation. Just when you thought the favorite formation from the Domenech era would be long gone...it makes another appearance. Blanc switched from the 4-4-2 diamond to the 4-2-3-1 in the second half. Clearly it was not a formation that fit well with the French side. Granted they held the lead briefly through a laser from Ben Arfa, but overall the formation seemed to cause more problems. First, it put Diarra and M'Vila together. M'Vila quickly seemed out of sorts compared to what he showed in the first half. And not sure what Diarra brought to the table. M'Vila was doing more than an adequate job in the first half as the sole holding midfielder, with a partner on his shoulder it appeared to stifle the young Rennes' game. He was not as free to roam as he had been in the first half. Second, Menez and Ben Arfa's tendencies at times were to drift too far into the center, thereby clogging up the lanes and the midfield. Couple this with the fact Hourau and then Benzema, as the lone strikers, drifted back to try to pick up the ball. This created at times, 3 players to be right on top of one another with little spacing. While I am sure this formation can work, Blanc, if he wants to use it, will need to make sure the personnel he runs out there is more appropriate. 

The Ugly:

• Defending set pieces. Well this problem has been around Les Bleus for a few years. Some teams just seem to have trouble with set pieces (see Arsenal). Rami seems to bring one element that could change this - his
  

  

  The Norwegian bagged his brace

  command in the air. But Ruffier did nothing to solve this, especially end of the match when he appeared lost on a few corners. The first goal from Norway was on a set piece, where Hourau was inexplicably defending on Huseklepp and was easily turned by the striker. This has been France's Achilles heel for a few years now, hopefully Blanc can find a solution.
• Huseklepp's second goal. Not ugly from his stand point as the Norwegian striker bagged his brace, but what was Diarra doing? A botched pass at the center circle led to the Norwegian striker waltzing in one on one against Ruffier. My one area of nit picking is that I think the Monaco keeper should have held his ground for a split second more. Why? Rami was sprinting back to try and close down the break, had Ruffier forced Huseklepp to either shoot or take another touch it might have allowed the French central defender to get back into the play. Instead Ruffier went to ground quickly trying to guess where the Norway man was heading and instead allowed himself to be easily side stepped and the ball gently tapped into an open net. Again, nit picking I realize.
• Lack of finishing for France. Any game you approach 20 shots on goal, granted less than half were on net, and only show 1 goal for your efforts you need to consider getting some goal scoring lessons. The silver lining is that there were some quality chances and it was good to see players taking their opportunities. Too often you see teams try to pass and wait for the "perfect" shooting chance. However, France will have to improve on this aspect. Question is what striker or striker combo to remedy this? With Henry retiring, Anelka out in international Siberia, no Trezeguet and who knows if Cisse can replicate his scoring form for Les Bleus there are a lot of up and coming strikers - Hourau, Benzema, Remy, Briand to name a few - but no established international caliber striker. Of course it is difficult to fill the boots of both Henry and Trezeguet when you consider both are top 3 goal scorers all time for France, with Henry being #1. This will be an ongoing quest, it will be interesting to see how it gets resolved. The talent is there, but what is the right system and combination.

Overall I think what Les Bleus showed to me was encouraging, then again after 6 years of Domenech almost anything would be better! Next steps will be how Blanc integrates some of the World Cup 23 back into the side. The players I think scored the most points to stick around - Rami, M'Vila, Hourau, Mexes, Sissoko, Menez and Ben Arfa. I did like what I saw in spurts from N'Zogbia, but he falls victim to the depth France have on the left - Ribery and Malouda stand in front of him, or even Diaby. To me Rami-Mexes could very well be the central pairing we see on Sept 3rd against Belarus for the Euro qualifier opener. I am not sure Gallas will figure back in the picture and not sure Squillaci slots in over Rami and he does not have the ball carrying skill of Mexes. Neither Cissokho nor Fani did enough to move ahead of Evra/Clichy/Abidal when it comes to Cissokho nor Sagna when it comes to Fani (although Fani had some quality crosses early in the game, not sure Sagna would have made those). Nasri might slot out to the right allowing Gourcuff to hold the central midfield slot, regardless Nasri demonstrated he has the quality to be the #10 for Les Bleus. Ben Arfa is the one pure dribbler and deserves consideration moving forward. Finally M'Vila showed a lot of promise and at 20 years old has a great future ahead - could make the holding midfield role one of the most competitive on the French roster.

Good to see Les Bleus back on the pitch, rather have seen it end in a win. But we can truly put the Domenech era behind us! Let the healing begin. Let us just hope the winning shows up...and soon. But the signs point to a brighter future than a few months back.

The French goal, Ben Arfa shows why he can be so frustrating at times, so much talent yet needs to find the consistency:

France v Ireland....The Players

So I gave some th0ught to the managers last post, now let us look at the players. Since at the end of the day it is the players on the pitch that will make the passes, take the shots, defend, score and make the saves. Where to start...might as well go from the back to the front:

Goalkeepers: Ireland is very stable with their starting keeper. Shay Given has been a main stay in the back for Ireland for a long time, since 1996 to be exact. In that time span he has 100 caps to his credit. He was the Irish keeper during the World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign, so is no stranger to having to play Les Bleus in a qualifying campaign. Also, he also has been in the middle of the Premiership since 1991, having played over 350 games for Newcastle...not a place without huge pressure from the fans. France will be backstopped by either Mandanda or Lloris - who have a combined 17 selections for the French national team. Based on Domenech's track record I would assume Lloris will find himself between the pipes for both matches. Both keepers are incredibly talented and have very bright futures ahead of them, however neither's performance has made him the clear cut #1 for Les Bleus. In such a high pressure match, experience will play a huge part in the ability of the keepers to make a difference, both positively or negatively....for that I will give Ireland the edge.

Defense: Rather than looking at individual defenders I will look at the entire units. Ireland will lean on Richard Dunn and John O'Shea to anchor their back line, both of which are veterans of the Premiership. They can even expect the unexpected goals such as against Italy when Sean St Ledger scoring the opener on a set piece.



This unit is solid, have veteran leadership and under Trap I am sure will be prepared to defend. As for Les Bleus they are still maddeningly inconsistent at the center back tandem - who to pair with Gallas? While I still contend that Mexes should be that player, and the heir apparent for the future "patron" of the back 4, he has not shown the consistency nor the opportunity from Domenech to establish himself in that role. The wide defenders are some of the best in the world at their positions - Sagna and Evra. The question becomes who will shoulder the central defensive role with Gallas? My bet is on Abidal, not that he is a natural central defender, but he appears to be the most consistent of the inconsistents. Edge is a push - on talent alone it would go to France but the instability gives me pause for concern.

The Midfields: This causes fans of Les Bleus some serious hair pulling at times. With all the potential that Domenech has at his disposal it appears he constantly leans on defensive minded midfielders, rather than take a balanced approach. Granted some of the offensive talent is injured - Nasri and Ribery - however there are other players that could have/should have been blooded earlier in the campaign - Menez, Feghouli, and Mounier - or players that could still serve a purpose - Pires and Giuly. It would have been nice to at least have a greater pool to pull from with regards to the offensive midfield. Defensively France have holding/defensive midfielders in spades - Toulalan, ADiarra, LDiarra, Sissoko and Diaby (he will most likely have to withdraw due to injury). That is not even looking at the likes of Vieira or Mavuba that have been used in the past. As for the Irish, the midfield would be much more formidable if Stephen Ireland would decide to play for his nation. A strange decision indeed for the young 23 year old, who is clearly Ireland's most creative player. Add to this Damien Duff's recent injury for club and the Irish midfield might have to rely on the likes of Hunt, McGeady and Miller...not house hold names. Advantage - Les Bleus, and if Ribery/Nasri had been healthy the advantage would be even greater.

The Strikers: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea...3 of France's strikers are all starters at these clubs. Ireland? Their main striker plays at Tottenham and could not make his mark at Liverpool. Now Keane is not slouch, he is a solid striker so please don't bombard me with comments that I am not giving him enough respect...he is a good striker...I just said it again. However, looking at the offensive punch Les Bleus can pull together means that purely on paper the advantage is clearly with Les Bleus...I really do not need to go into further analysis. The question is the following - will Domenech leverage all this offensive power or put most of it on the bench? Will he have Henry/Anelka on the field...how will Benzema be leverage? Will Gignac be the choice striker? Unless Domenech plays a 4-3-3 there will be a striker or two left on the bench. Not a bad thing to have late in games, but if you have 2 of the said strikers on your bench you will clearly be wasting one of them...(doubt you would bring in 2 strikers late unless you are chasing a goal). So how Domenech selects the starters will play a role in how much of an advantage France can take with regards to their talent offensively. I would argue that Keane is a wash with any of the strikers France will throw on the pitch - it is the second and third striker options where the gap becomes apparent. Advantage - Les Bleus.

On paper France clearly have the more talented squad. However that does not always guarantee a win...

France v Ireland World Cup Qualifiers - Domenech makes his list

So the list for the 2nd place play off for the World Cup is out for Les Bleus...no major surprises but some interesting formations/situations may arise. First the list:

Gardiens de But

Cédric CARRASSO	Girondins Bordeaux
Hugo LLORIS	Olympique Lyonnais
Stève MANDANDA	Olympique de Marseille

Défenseurs

Eric ABIDAL	F.C. Barcelone
Aly CISSOKHO	Olympique Lyonnais
Julien ESCUDE	FC Seville
Patrice EVRA	Manchester United
Rod FANNI	Stade Rennais
William GALLAS	Arsenal F.C.
Bakary SAGNA	Arsenal F.C.
Sébastien SQUILLACI	F.C. Seville

Milieux de terrain

Abou DIABY	Arsenal F.C.
Alou DIARRA	Girondins Bordeaux
Lassana DIARRA	Real Madrid
Yoann GOURCUFF	Girondins de Bordeaux
Florent MALOUDA	Chelsea F.C.
Moussa SISSOKO	Toulouse F.C.
Jérémy TOULALAN	Olympique Lyonnais

Attaquants

Nicolas ANELKA	Chelsea F.C.
Karim BENZEMA	Real Madrid
André-Pierre GIGNAC	Toulouse F.C.
Sidney GOVOU	Olympique Lyonnais
Thierry HENRY	F.C. Barcelone
Loïc REMY	OGC Nice

There are really no major surprises with regards to who was included. Cissokho has been touted as the next French lateral defender to get his chance. With the injury to Clichy, clearly the door was open for the Lyon player. I am sure it did not hurt that his club has been doing very well in the Champions League, giving the defender great exposure at a high level. Clearly the defender has had a fairy tale story - a few seasons ago he was in Ligue 2, got picked up by a 2nd tier club in Portugal only to find himself at FC Porto...and last season he was the target for Milan only to find himself at Olympique Lyonnaise where he is clearly establishing himself as on the the best lateral defenders in France. The latest rumor is that some of the big fish in England may be interested in securing his services. And now he has received a deserved call up to the French national side...quit an interesting few months.



What is really glaring are the names that are missing.

Let us start with Vieira. Clearly Domenech is not convinced that the France captain is fit enough to include in his list. For once I am in agreement with the French manager. I am a huge Pat fan, as I had blogged about in the past he is the best holding midfielder France has ever had. However, he has become very injury prone, not something that easy to over come the way he plays either. At his best he was a true "box to box" midfielder, could level a bone crunching tackle, slot a surgical diagonal pass and score the crucial goal all in a days work. Many point to the Zizou head butt as what did France in during the 2006 World Cup finals...I say it was Vieira having to be substituted out due to a hamstring injury - this took out one of Frances PK shooters, forced Domenech to put in Diarra when I am sure he was not in the substitution plan and eliminated one of France's best players for the tournament. He was absolutely huge for Les Bleus during that run - scored the crucial goal against Togo and set up the second goal, scored the winner against Spain, and partnering with Makelele formed the defensive cover to allow Zizou to roam freely in the midfield.



Having said all that, I do believe his time with France has come to an end. It was a huge risk to take him to the Euros where he played 0 minutes. Domenech cannot and should not chance it during the home and away match up against Ireland. Will Pat be fit to play in South Africa if France make it...not sure. Maybe a full season with Inter will demonstrate how much more he has left in the tank. But I fear it will not be enough.

Another ommission is Mexes. Unlike Vieira, Mexes is at the height of his prowess. He appears to have been completely banished from Les Bleus...which I think is absolutely insane. I have little faith in Escude. I realize that the Sevilla defender had some poor luck against Romania, however I just do not see it when he has played for France. Yes he is good in the air...but so is Mexes. I realize he plays his club football with Squillaci so there is some understanding there, but right now neither he nor Mexes have had great showings for France recently. However the upside for the Roma player is much higher in my opinion. I think Mexes-Gallas is the central pairing that could and should work, but only if they are given the time to develop - in practice and during matches. Granted the next two games are not the time to experiment, but since I doubt that Escude will see the field for either match, why not have Mexes at Clairfontaine?

Ribery is also absent. However since he is not 100% - probably out for another month. So clearly not an option. Gomis was left at home in favor of Remy. Not entirely surprising since the Nice striker might be a good option holding up the right channel, not something in Gomis' repetoire. No Nasri, again he has picked up full competition recently so probably not enough football in his legs to warrant a spot. No Boumsong...oh wait that is GREAT!

Without the Kaiser, the French formation almost sets itself - Henry should be on the left side (assuming he is 100% himself), allowing Gourcuff in the middle with either Gouvou/Anelka/Remy on the right. Benzema/Anelka at the point. Lass and Toulalan as the holding midfield. With the usual back line - Evra, Abidal, Gallas, Sagna. It will be interesting if reverting back to the 4-2-3-1 will slow down what appeared to be a more attacking minding French side with the 4-4-2...