France vs Romania

The French coach has decided to experiment in the last friendly by using a 4-3-1-2 instead of his tried and tested 4-5-1. The trident Ribery Henry Benzema has been promising but it kinda cut the team in two with the other 7 players unable to catch up with them on counter attack. It also led to criticism or the lack of width as three defensive midfield Toulalan Makélélé Malouda stay centrally and width was not provided by the full backs.
Uncertainty also reign with Viera's injury that could see him withdrawn from the squad tomorrow and being replaced by Flamini who has been the 24th man for a week now training as a full member without knowing if he will be called up for the tournament.

The team should be
Coupet Sagnol Thuram Gallas Abidal Ribery Malélélé Toulalan Malouda Benzema Henry/Anelka (if Henry is not passed fit )

As most of the teams will play a defensive game i think we must play with Ribery/Benzema/Anelka/Gomis and play a more offensive football like in the Euro 2000.

Henry looks to start on the bench accroding to the latest tactical training session.

Maybe Domenech will use him as super-sub then; it's Benzema's time to shine!

His old sciatic nerve problem is back.

The lucky French shouldnt have to many problems against Romania today
and will need all three points if they want to progress from the group of death....

I'm looking forward to watching Frank Ribbery do his stuff and Benzima if he starts upfront.

France 3 Romania 0

i think this match is gonna be a draw...

romania is a really good team so maybe they will even win.
-x-

Looking forward to kick off for this one. I can see this encounter being similar to those that have gone before it so far this tournament, the Romanians proving worthy opponents and seeing a lot of the ball yet their efforts proving fruitless and France to be efficient and take it 2-0.

Romania are holding their own so far and this could go either way really. Benzema & Ribery have been shut down pretty well

Oh well we played for the 0-0 draw French coach very defensive I am sure he thinks we will beat Holland and Italy easily, what a ....

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ........... boring........

group of death for sure...... these two teams played as if they were already dead...... there is still time for one of them to bounce back, but I found that to be the worst game so far in the tournament.........

I think we are the poorest team so far. Nothing at all to offer...

What a match! Full of exciting nothingness.

Chivu good most of the time for Romania.
It looked like France were playing for a draw.

Pathetic.

Romania did their job. France did their worst.

Abidal and Malouda were dreadful. Sagnol was useless. Toulalan and Makélélé controlled the game for France despite being defensive Midfielders and they made all the play, and it was weak but you can't blame them - these guys are there to protect the back four, which in the context of this game made absolute no sense at all. Ribéry was the only one looking for urgency. Benzema showed some decent touches but overall made no impact. Anelka was poor but he was stranded.

Really poor game of football. Very, very slim chances. Sloppy passing and dodgy tackling.

I thought France would make an exit in the group stage and after that performance I am sure it will be the case. Domenech hasn't any kind of clue what football is about.

I think you are right, Domenech seemed happy with the draw

What a dissapointing game that was. Nearly the worst start possible for France, just what they didnt need. Now they have a tough battle ahead of them for qualifying from their tricky group. As for Romania, maybe we can't rule them out just yet. They played well against France today, didnt themselves proud.

Zzzzzz, dire game...

It misses Blanc Desailly Zidane Trezeguet and Dugarry who are good in the air, and were able to score with their head on a corner for example, it misses two players Thuram and Liza on the sides who played like Roberto Carlos. It miss a player like Zidane or Platini who organize the game and was able to score on a free kick. There is not enough precision in the pass.

Toulalan and Makelele and the defense are good.

I don't think we will go far.

The above from J-Axe is a good summary, a very poor game but Romania doing what they had to do in order to get a result. They defended very well indeed and a shocking lack of urgency from the French saw them never really stretched at the back, Lobont had very, very little to do. Even I, a self confessed critique of the France national team, was shocked at the startling inefficiencies on display this evening. There was no creativity, no urgency and as Axey said it was the defensive Touloulan and Makelele who were trying to create whilst it seemed like Ribery was the only attacking player trying to make something happen. Anelka was anonymous with no service and Malouda was again very poor. The French are now going to find it very difficult having not won the apparent easiest game of their group, with Holland and Italy to come.

As for the Romanians they can be proud of that performance, they easily could have won the game in the end. Niculae led the game well up top and they were well organised throughout never shirking their defensive duties and not ever losing their cool. Radoi made a number of superb interceptions and looked solid along with Goian in the heart of the defence. I'm a big fan of their boss Piturca, he seems a shrewd tactician and perfected their formation today.

The strengths are in the Wings now. Ribéry and Malouda should be the main playmakers. Ribéry did the best forward play, but he wasn't served or supported in any assuring way.

Gomis looked absolutely clueless when he came on as well. Having somebody like Trezeguet or Cissé in there would have made a difference. Missing Vieira and Henry clearly. Abidal and Sagnol were weak both going forward and in Defence - Sagna and Evra would be better options there, to inject some pace, rhythm and strength into the wide play, supporting the two playmakers in Malouda and Ribéry. Both fullbacks were weak and it effected the Wingers who had no support.

Anelka was stranded because of this as well. Then in the middle it was too defensive and although Benzema dropped off, he never looked up.