I get the feeling that this whole Ireland incident will galvanise the french sqaud and they will make it to at least the semi's (despite Domenich's blundering)
absolute piss easy draw pour le frogs
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Uh. Sickening!!! El-Kun2009-12-05 12:01:02
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French let of the hook with this draw but I still think the group could be tight especially if France don't take maximum points off uruguay in their first match.
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That's not an easy group. But they must be happy they've avoided one of the big seeds.
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Having trouble with doing my World Cup predictions. I can't help just giving all these teams draws against each other.
I dunno. France have some good players obviously, but they've just seemed rather flakey to me over recent years. South Africa probably one of the weakest teams at the tournaments, but they may step up as hosts... Mexico haven't seemed to have as solid a qualifying as they sometimes do, but they usually play good Football. Uruguay the lowest qualifier of the South American teams.
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You can't write off the French (Senegal excepted). I mean they did make it to the finals last time and won in 98. There is something to be said for saving yourself for the big ones.
Allez les Bleus
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yeah they shouldn't have any problem with this group.
Uruguay and Mexico have defenitely become weaker in recent times, SA at home are an unknown quantity really.
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Spain turning les Bleus over at Stade de France. Spain are pure class right now.
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Spain are pure class so you can't hold this game against France, though I think France have been weak for the last few years, and can easily see them going down to Mexico / Uruguay. Will be interesting.
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I'm fairly confident they will have enough to qualify top of their group, it's after that where I get a bit concerned.
I'm aiming to be in Paris for the knockout stages so I hope they do well.
I'm aiming to be in Paris for the knockout stages so I hope they do well.
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No shame in getting beaten by the Spaniards. Better second half from the French, but still not enough. Just a friendly anyway. Yay for Spain!
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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/785328/ce/uk/?cc=3436&ver=global
France provisional 30 man squad. No Benzema, a little bit of a surprise, and no Nasri, a big surprise.
Edit: Squad:
Bullion2010-05-12 10:17:09
France provisional 30 man squad. No Benzema, a little bit of a surprise, and no Nasri, a big surprise.
Edit: Squad:
Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Mickael Landreau (Lille), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rod Fanni (Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Adil Rami (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Yann M'Vila (Rennes), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).
Bullion2010-05-12 10:17:09
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Nasri might be feeling hard done by, especially when he sees Diaby in there! Other than his exclusion I think the team looks pretty decent and think they'll give it a good go.
Make or break for Domenech either way. Arsenal2010-05-12 12:53:38
Make or break for Domenech either way. Arsenal2010-05-12 12:53:38
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Very good (even some great) players, shambles of a team, idiot coach.
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They've been getting some good team bonding with that prostitute so that should bode well for them.
Domenech is an idiot, no doubt, but if he can lead them to glory all will be forgiven!
Domenech is an idiot, no doubt, but if he can lead them to glory all will be forgiven!
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No nasri is very surprising!
Benzema proving nothing good can come from leaving his small pond
Benzema proving nothing good can come from leaving his small pond
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Dropping Nasri from French team is a bit crazy in my view. A bit less, but still surprising, lack of Benzema and Vieira.
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Benzema and Vieira have been average this season, Vieira couldn't make the Internazionale team and then was on the outer of the City first team. Getting a bit old. And for all Benzema's hype he hasn't delivered at all at Real.
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Laurent Blanc has just left Bordeaux, supposedly to be announced as the next French coach..before or after the world cup though?
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After. Good move, although not sure what the incentives are on Domenech now.
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Good choice for France, pity it wasn't done 2 years ago.
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Agreed. The wedding proposal really saved his ass. 
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that is really quite strange, they are going to appoint Blanc before the WC but he doesn't take charge till the euro qualifiers start..
this really could've been done 2 years ago after the essentially pointless (literally) euro '08.
I still have my eye on France vs. England in the quarters though hopefully. that will be an excellent game. (requires them to both win their pools however..
)
this really could've been done 2 years ago after the essentially pointless (literally) euro '08.
I still have my eye on France vs. England in the quarters though hopefully. that will be an excellent game. (requires them to both win their pools however..
)
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France squad (24 - one more to be omitted out of Gallas and Planus, depending on Gallas' fitness):
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda(Olympique Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux)
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Girondins Bordeaux), Gael Clichy(Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon)
Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Alou Diarra(Girondins Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
Forwards: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille)Arsenal2010-05-18 09:24:54
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Olympique Lyon), Steve Mandanda(Olympique Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Girondins Bordeaux)
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Girondins Bordeaux), Gael Clichy(Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Olympique Lyon)
Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Alou Diarra(Girondins Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal)
Forwards: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique Marseille)Arsenal2010-05-18 09:24:54
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I still think that that's a very strong squad and they have the potential to go very far.
Abou Diaby though? Come on.
Abou Diaby though? Come on.
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Only Spain can really say they have a stronger squad than that.
Then again, only the Argies can say they have someone as idiotic running the team.
Then again, only the Argies can say they have someone as idiotic running the team.
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Centre back is the real weakness imo, especially if Gallas does not make it. Other than that the squad is very strong (think of Malouda, Clichy, Govou etc on the bench).
Allez les Bleus!
Allez les Bleus!
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With Gallas it's strong, without him it's weak. Shows how much one player can really effect the squad. Awesome to see Djibril Cisse in the squad as well. That man is class.
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With Gallas it's strong, without him it's weak.� Shows how much one player can really effect the squad.�
Gallas isn't better than Squillacci.
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Gallas out does mean that Planus would be next in line at CB. Having a new cap that close to the starting line-up is definitely a weakness.
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French are my second team behind NZ. Have followed them at World Cups and Euros since 98 cause of my parents strong interest in France. And I will be touring the country during the Cup.
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I'll be in Paris from the QF stages. They'd better make it that far. 
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So this is the thread that all the Arsenal and Chelsea Supporters go to for the World Cup. I have to say the Tottenham and Manchester United Supporters are over at the England thread.
Who said that there is conflict between club and country, eh??
Who said that there is conflict between club and country, eh??
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So this is the thread that all the Arsenal and Chelsea Supporters go to for the World Cup. I have to say the Tottenham and Manchester United Supporters are over at the England thread.
Who said that there is conflict between club and country, eh??
Who said that there is conflict between club and country, eh??
hey now im very much an england supporter
dont really care for france
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Centre back is the real weakness imo, especially if Gallas does not make it. Other than that the squad is very strong (think of Malouda, Clichy, Govou etc on the bench).
Allez les Bleus!
Allez les Bleus!
surely they will be starting malouda ahead of anelka. hes been far more impressive this season than anelka. with henry in the middle and ribery and malouda each side of him france will be extremely potent.
how good has henry been playing recently? is he assured of a starting spot cos anelka has been bloody good when playing in middle up front as opposed to out right
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