Lets get going with the teams that got this started, the ones from Group A. This according to me was the veritable group of death, I mean how can you not call this one when you have France, Mexico, Uruguay and South Africa.
France, yes have had the occasional hiccups as in the 2002 edition and the 2008 euros and not much was expected from them this time considering that they Raymond Domenech as the coach. Too many reports of players not on nice terms with each other too did not help their cause. This team has immense potential, but the environment in the camp did not give too much hope.
The squad selection too left much to be desired, Viera should have been in the squad even if he did not start and Benzema too was an absolute must. The starting lineup put up by Domenech for the first game was surprising, playing anelka as the lone stiker through the middle is never a great option and the rich vien of form that he carried forward from last season in the Premiership with Chelsea was mainly due to playing down the right and having a strike partner in Didier Drogba.
The problem was that they never got their combination right, a draw against a nervous Uruguay was the only point that managed to garner in the tournament. This was followed by a 0-2 loss to Mexico whose impressive movement in the first game against the hosts finally materialized into goals in their second game. Will get back to Mexico later, but can you give me one good reason why you not get Henry on and get Gignac on instead. Anelka played the worst 45 minutes a striker can play and maybe the worst freekick taken in this tournament. Aye sad but what followed this game completely erased whatever mathematical chances they had of making it.
The off field fracas that followed was a shame to French football and the game in general people striking calling names ensured that their captain Patrice Evra would sit out the last game that they would go on to lose 1-2 to the hosts and ultimately take an early flight home.
Ribery I think has always been an overrated player to say the least, his claim to fame the 2006 World Cup was plain lucky playing off the creativity of one of the greatest players of all times, Zidane. Since then he has been part of multi million dollar transfers and interests from all the big European clubs, alas no show i would think as far as his performances are concerned. He never sticks to a club for too long, and yes he has this great ability that he gets people sent off, maybe this could be an asset with his current club which boasts of players with similar skills as Van Bommel and Arjen Robben :-). The stats for Ribery are alarming, the pass completion rate stands at a measly 59%, again this percentage looks much better than it actually is, no telling final balls, that tells you the story. He was a sore to the eye. Enough Ribery bashing.
The playing eleven selection was again the biggest concern. Florent Malouda comes off a super season, and he gets on in the 75th minute in the first game are you joking guys ?? Ask a left winger to play through the centre, Ribery plays through the left by the way. They were a team with far too many left minded wingers when all of them should have had a start in some other team. Sidney Govou was a joke on the right wing, playing a Ribery would have been better.
The French defence left a lot to be desired, Willam Gallas question marks were there on this fitness before the cup, he was clearly left in the lurch in the game against Mexico. No pace no positional coverage and dos santos hernandez and vela and for that matter the the grand old man blanco had a ball against him. Bakary Sagna had an okayish world cup. Patrice Evra looked tired and jaded, not his usual self.
Abou Diaby for me would be their best performer this time around. Good play in the midfield. Gourcuff playing from the centre of the midfield had no support from his teammates, people unwilling to pass the ball to him. There are pages that we can write on this, as to why domenech preferred Gignac to Henry in the half time substition against Mexico, why Gourcuff saw so little of the ball from hos teammates. I would like to draw the line here.
France in the World Cup of twenty ten never arrived, they were never there. Alas a good team who could have gone much further never made it past the first round. Is it Henry;s hand ball to blame ? ..maybe..we will never know
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