Anelka and Ribery make their feelings known.
On the eve of their opening match against Uruguay, Les Bleus are also on the verge of self-destructing. Despite the memories of World Cup 2002, where the defending champions fell to Senegal and were embarrassingly ousted in the first round, the French national side is once again fraught with controversy that threatens to end their World Cup 2010 dreams.
It seems that (surprise!) many players are unhappy with Raymond Domenech’s tactical decisions, including his choices for the starting XI.
So why not make those feelings known the day before you begin your World Cup campaign?
It’s fair to say that the 1-0 loss to China in their last friendly tune-up was embarrassing and the team looked clearly out of sorts. Numerous passes went astray, shots taken went well wide, and then that stupid Jabulani ball caught Hugo Lloris wrong-footed on a free-kick for the match-winner. Throughout the entire match it was clear that there were eleven unhappy campers on the pitch, and Anelka wasn’t even the sulkiest of the bunch.
Now comes the news that the majority of the players believe that Thierry Henry should be in the starting lineup for tomorrow’s opener against Uruguay. The only dissenter? Ribery, who would rather have Andre-Pierre Gignac up top over both Govou and Henry. Man, he and Titi really don’t get along. The squad would also prefer that Abou Diaby be given the start, with he and Titi replacing Yoann Gourcuff and Sidney Govou, respectively.
You know what? I agree with them, and so do other supporters of Les Bleus that I have spoken to. In fact, I was just discussing this exact scenario yesterday with another Frenchman after our rec league match. The decision to start the 30 year-old Govou, who has 10 goals in 41 appearances with the national side, at the expense of the 32 year-old Henry, who has 51 goals in 121 appearances, is absolutely inexplicable. Presumably, Govou has a better astrological sign than Titi. To marginalize the talismanic player at the expense of a less-skilled alternative (much as Barcelona has done) simply doesn’t make sense to me.
However, the bigger surprise is that the players are in favor of Diaby over Gourcuff. It would seem that the Bordeaux man has been a bit of a pain in the ass in the dressing room and on the pitch, displaying a bit of petulance and diva attitude that has not yet been earned. The result is that during the match against Costa Rica, Anelka refused to pass to Gourcuff, seriously limiting the effectiveness of the midfielder, while in the match against China, Ribery refused to let Gourcuff take free-kicks.
With the talent of Anelka and Ribery guaranteed up front, it is the functioning of the midfield that will determine how far France progress in South Africa. Personally, I would prefer that Abou Diaby be given the start over the lead-footed and card-prone Jeremy Toulalan. Maintaining the 4-3-3 formation, that would yield a midfield of Gourcuff (just pass him the damn ball, you sulking bastard!), Diaby and Malouda.
This whole thing may, in fact, rest on the shoulders of Florent Malouda.
Ask any of the other UF writers and they will tell you that I have never been a big fan of Malouda, he of the many hairstyles. He has never really impressed me in international play, and as an Arsenal fan I couldn’t stand the Chelsea man. However, I have to admit that he had a fantastic season in London, and he appears to have finally matured at the age of 30 (maybe having 4 kids will do that to you). He seems to be the only player for Les Bleus speaking up in training camp with a message of unity, urging his fellow players to put aside their distrust of Domenech (and of each other, in some instances) and focus on producing the best possible product on the pitch.
Everyone knows that France have the individual talent to win the World Cup – if Malouda can’t convince them to play as a team, they will have only themselves to blame for an early exit.
Pic needs more petulance.
You know the only thing more ridiculous than the French team talking about disagreements is a France fan completely blowing it out of proportion….and falling for distorted stories made in the English press.
A longer response to refute your claims to follow…
abidal out, toulalan in (CENTER BACK THAT IS!!!)
diaby and gourcuff in
Henry in, govou out. and not allowed within 500 meters of the rest of the team
i look forward to Blanc not putting up with this nonsense and telling them all how he’s going to pass his foot up their collective rear ends if they continue being children and not passing to each other
@Sarah – I don’t believe that it’s blown out of proportion at all. It’s been clear for some time now that Ribery and Titi simply can’t play together (see the numerous times they have gotten into disagreements during a match), and it appears that Gourcuff is finding himself in an outsider role as well.
More importantly, the squad has looked entirely disinterested in putting forth a unified effort (particularly in the losses to Spain and China) because: (a) none of them believe that Domenech knows what he is doing; and (b) there is no true leader (in the vein of Zizou) on this team.
@Sarah – and also, it’s not just the English press. I simply didn’t link to similar stories from L’Equipe and France Football because they aren’t in English.
Diaby should start, but really it means moving Ribery to the right and letting Malouda play his preferred position.
I don’t know about these stories, they have been percolating in lequipe, but they don’t seem to have anything behind them. The training sessions are closed right now at this point aren’t they? So basically, the press doesn’t have anything to work with, I wonder if the necessities of the news cycle is driving this. Also, this story doesn’t have any sourcing except for the lequipe. I’m seeing it all over now, but its pretty clear that its all rehashes of the same story.
@NYKId – while it might be the best lineup given the cast of characters, doesn’t it scare you to have Diaby as the strong man in that midfield? It does for me and I’m not even French
L’equipe and Francefootball have the same owners, so, basically the same source..
I’m comfortable with Diaby in the midfield, although he is clearly no Makelele or Vieira (but few are). I certainly prefer him over Toulalan, whom I despise (he’s the French Michael Bradley).
As for the sourcing of the story, I wouldn’t take it so seriously if it hadn’t already been well-established since Euro 2008 that this team is completely dysfunctional.
Hey, they didn’t train in the stadium today, instead doing at their HQ. Some surprise coming maybe?
@NY Kid. Don’t you mean French Rico Clark?
Did Ribery get in trouble over those girls, too?
how govou starts over titi is beyond retarded its an insult to retards everywhere. i know diaby gets hated on a lot by both non arsenal supporters and gooners alike but im a huge diaby fan. when hes on his game he can play the dm role provides a very silky passing game as well. obviously he isnt better than gourcuff but if yoann is being bill big boots and pissing off the veterans than he should be replaced. and i agree with NYK toulalan shouls play center half and should never be allowed to play in midfield
@machine — I like Diaby when he’s on his game too. When he’s on his game, he’s a step above Viera, in my mind, because of his skill going forward. However, it’s the giant WHEN that’s so frustrating with him
Sorry, Kid, but I’m watching Uruguay beating France at Keeley’s tomorrow…this is going to be an utter self-destruction of epic proportions…bye-bye, Ray-Ray
[...] (gag me) and a few other newspapers…the infighting on the team continues to be a problem. NY Kid at the Unprofessonal Foul wrote a post yesterday about the rumors swirling around the France camp yesterday. Maybe I’m in denial, maybe [...]
Holy Crap. Diaby’s in, but MALOUDA out?
[...] (gag me) and a few other newspapers…the infighting on the team continues to be a problem. NY Kid at the Unprofessonal Foul wrote a post yesterdayabout the rumors swirling around the France camp yesterday. Maybe I’m in denial, maybe [...]
[...] (gag me) and a few other newspapers…the infighting on the team continues to be a problem. NY Kid at the Unprofessonal Foul wrote a post yesterdayabout the rumors swirling around the France camp yesterday. Maybe I’m in denial, maybe [...]
[...] (gag me) and a few other newspapers…the infighting on the team continues to be a problem. NY Kid at the Unprofessonal Foul wrote a post yesterdayabout the rumors swirling around the France camp yesterday. Maybe I’m in denial, maybe [...]
[...] (gag me) and a few other newspapers…the infighting on the team continues to be a problem. NY Kid at the Unprofessonal Foul wrote a post yesterdayabout the rumors swirling around the France camp yesterday. Maybe I’m in denial, maybe [...]
I know England have their problems, but it makes me feel a whole lot better to see France in such a mess