[funkdoctorspock]

I wanted to start this thread in particular because I will be "following" France throughout the tournament and wanted to discuss items that might not be thread specific elsewhere.

So for all Le Bleus fans, this is meet, greet and discuss all things France NT here.

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Speaking of which, I just read the match report for there last friendly. A 1-0 result over Columbia. Personally, I'm not concerned about the scoreline at all. Its another match under the belt for this group of players and when the tournament starts later this week, they'll be up to the task.

How is it that Flamini can't make the original 23 man squad? Incredible to me, since he had an outstanding season with Arsenal. Yes he's an injury callup, but if Vieira proves fit, Flamini is out.

Henry, Benzema, Anelka, Gomis. Those are the 4 forwards France has decided to go with. Although I'm a Cisse fan, I have come to terms with his omission and looking at the 4 chosen I can see why. Gomis scored as many goals as Cisse in Ligue 1 and is a different type of forward to the other 3 named. Big, strong, and a wicked shot, he is a poacher type and would could link up well with either of those three.

[Dirtycheat]

France are my chosen team in euro 2008. Its amazing how unfrench the team is though, its like the creme de la creme of African players that have french passports. I kind of like that though

I think flamini wont add much that isnt already there. I mean they have diarra and his dad (makalele) aswell as vierra,

Having said that.....

Flamini returns as Vieira fears grow

Mathieu Flamini has been called up as cover by France coach Raymond Domenech amid growing concerns that Bleus captain Patrick Vieira will not be fit for UEFA EURO 2008™.

Precaution
The midfielder, who has agreed to join AC Milan from Arsenal FC this summer, had been part of Domenech's provisional 30-man squad but failed to make the final cut. It now looks like he could get his chance after all after being recalled to the French training camp at Clairefontaine as a precaution.

Vieira doubt
Vieira, who turns 32 on 23 June, is suffering from an injury to his left thigh sustained on Friday. The FC Internazionale Milano midfielder will not be fit for the opening game against Romania a week today – and Domenech will wait until the final deadline to decide whether to replace him with Flamini. "I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic," said the coach. "Just being attentive to whatever can happen and ensuring that the team is fully prepared for a section featuring four great teams. The team not at their prime at kick-off will be in trouble immediately."

Two caps
Flamini, who has been capped twice by France, was initially dropped on 28 May along with Hatem Ben Arfa, Djibril Cissé, Mickaël Landreau, Alou Diarra, Julien Escudé and Philippe Mexès. Domenech, however, asked them to remain on standby as changes can be made before the team's opening game in case of injury.

Rules and regulations
According to Article 16.05 of the Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship: "In the event of serious injury to a listed player before his team's first match in the final tournament, the player in question may be substituted only if a doctor from the UEFA Medical Committee and the team doctor concerned both confirm that the injury is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part." Les Bleus play Colombia in their final friendly at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

euro2008.uefa.com - Flamini returns as Vieira fears grow


Also, I think my hype about gomis in about 4 different threads will be fully justified. He reminds me of drogba so much.

Domenech is an under rated manager imo, he makes decisions based on what his mind says and bot his heart or the media.

[funkdoctorspock]

It seems that Vieira and Henry will not be playing against Romania.

I personally do not think it will matter though against Romania. Not to discredit the talent of the Romanian team, but they are no match for France.

I'm hoping to see Benzema and Gomis up front. Those two are going to cause so many problems. Not to mention Ribery and Nasri.

Fingers crossed that Evra gets the start. He definitely deserves it, considering he has been in my opinion the best left back the world has to offer. Hopefully it translates into a start.

[Mark]

no problems whatsoever

[funkdoctorspock]

I dont' want to belittle Romania's performance, because they did a good job of stiffling France at times. But the truth of the matter was... France failed miserably in the final third of the pitch. If they could finish better or if they were less individualistic going for goal, they would have scored.

Very disappointed in Anelka's play today. Along with Benzema and Ribery.

France should have scored at least once.

[Dirtycheat]

Originally Posted by funkdoctorspock

Fingers crossed that Evra gets the start. He definitely deserves it, considering he has been in my opinion the best left back the world has to offer. Hopefully it translates into a start.

i dont think abidal is better than evra at all and i agree with you, he should start.

Evra can run past people and put in a cross, abidal doesnt do that too often. He prefers to cut inside and drill it 30 yards wide of goal.


I think france will have to be more adventurous, they dont look like they want the win. Just astonishing how they were more than happy to let the romanian back 4 to pass it amongst themselves.

I think romania defended well and although france had a few chances, it would have been harsh if they took the points because france were awefull.

I was actually anticipating a romanian goal against the run of play but it never happened.


Lets hope henry recovers for next match, abidal gets subbed for evra and we see more desire in the french NT

[Torque]

Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele confirmed they were retiring from international football following France's elimination from UEFA EURO 2008™ on Tuesday.

Second retirement
The pair are stepping down having already gone into retirement once, only to return along with Zinédine Zidane to help Les Bleus qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and then reach the final. This time, however, their decisions are unlikely to be reversed. The 2-0 defeat by Italy, which left their team bottom of Group C with just one point from three matches, was hardly the ending that two of France's greatest servants would have envisaged.

Record appearances
Makelele, who earned his 71st cap against the world champions in Zurich, featured in every minute of the campaign but could do nothing to prevent a telling defeat against a determined Italy side. Thuram watched the game from the substitutes' bench, left out having started against Romania and the Netherlands – appearances that took his record haul of caps to 142 and setting an unprecedented mark of 16 UEFA European Championship finals appearances. "I still intend to keep playing [at club level] but I don't know where that will be," said the FC Barcelona defender.

Integral member
Thuram, 36, first donned the France shirt in 1994 and was an integral member of the team that won the World Cup in 1998 and the UEFA European Championship in 2000. He endeared himself to supporters by scoring twice in quick succession in the 2-1 semi-final win over Croatia in 1998 – the only goals he scored for his country. Makelele was born in DR Congo but first appeared for his adopted country against Norway in 1995. After missing out on the triumphs of 1998 and 2000, the Chelsea FC anchorman established himself as a key member of the side, featuring in two World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.

euro2008.uefa.com - French servants bow to Father Time

Well, it was about time. One of the main reasons they didn't get past the group stage is the fact that they're team is old. Nowadays you can't just rely only on experience. You need young and experienced players.

Also, I think they should leave Toulalan out of the NT. Wtf man? This player was fuckin' awful in all 3 matches.