The performance of pre-tournament favourite France can be sums up as disappointing. For a team filled with so much talented players, they can't even get a proper shot on target for the entire 90 minutes.
Prior to the starts of Euro 2008, so many has predicted France would win the tournament because they have a core players who would lead the younger ones and they have been around for long period of time. Yet from the performance last night, it is hardly matching with the favourite tag they had on their forehead.
France squad is basically almost the same as the one played in 2006 World Cup minus Zinedine Zidane, but they still have experienced players like Makalele, Anelka, Ribery, Gallas etc with young guns like Benzema. On paper they are by far stronger than Romania, but the tactic used by the Romanian works well for them as they restricted French to limited space around penalty area.
Another factor is Raymond Domenech's incapability to dictate the game quick enough and also his preference of players. Many has doubt about his ability as French National coach and he would be sacked if not for qualified for the World Cup 2006 finals, where they lost!
So my bet wouldn't be on France anymore after watching their lacklusture display like that this morning. Teams like Portugal and Czech Rep were also far from top form, yet they still can produce some displined and penetrated football. They still maintain some of their traditional style of play. France is just lacking those, and for that I am betting against them totally!
14 years ago
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1 comment:
I think France needs to drop Anelka and pair Benzema with either Henry or Gomis up front.
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