Friendly: France v England [26.3.08]

[kyan]

England squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (AstonVilla), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

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France squad:

Goalkeepers: Gregory Coupet (Lyon), Mickael Landreau (PSG), Hugo Lloris (Nice), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Mathieu Delpierre (Stuttgart), Julien Escude (Seville), Patrice Evra (Man Utd), William Gallas (Arsenal), Gael Givet (Marseille), Philippe Mexes (AS Roma), Adil Rami (Lille), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Mathieu Bodmer (Lyon), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Samir Nasri (Marseille), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Jerome Rothen (PSG),

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Louis Saha (Man Utd), Loic Remy (Lens)

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First thing that's made really clear by this is we lack firepower, we have 4 and the French have 4 strikers, with only Rooney having a good season, but he struggles to score, while France have 6 top strikers (Ben Arfa, Malouda, Govou & Ribery are more wingers I think...). So it's going to be interesting to see what Capello does up front, especially since Owen didn't play at all last time around.

Terry is expected to be captain again...

I hope Bentley gets game time, and Johnson probably deserves some too.

[Dellas]

is Henry injured? if not then why isn't he in the squad.

my England team would be:

-------------------James/Green-----------

-Johnson------Ferdinand-----Terry-------A.Cole-

------------Hagreaves---------Lampard------------

Beckham--------------J.Cole----------------Bentley/Gerrard---

----------------------Rooney------------------------


I think that should be the team with Gerrard probably not starting cos imo he hasn't been that gd recently however if he does start then move joe to the left and move him in to the centre. I'd rather have Johnson than Brown at RB. Crouch will probably start if it is 4-4-2 but if it is 4-3-3 he should come on as a sub because I cannot see Rooney playing to his best if he is put on the wing.

French Team:

---------------------Coupet------------------

-Gallas------Mexes-------Thuram-----Abidal/Evra--

----------------------Makelele------------------------

-Ribery-------------?????--------------Ben-Arfa---

-------------Anelka----------Trezeguet--------

Malouda shouldn't start as he has been really poor for Chelsea but he most likely will. France have too many gd lb's btw so should be interesting who is picked. Not sure who to put at am for France

[kyan]

Gerrard's been in fantastic form recently, his link-up with Torres has been the main reason for Liverpool's recent revival...

I wouldn't be surprised to see Gerrard playing just off Rooney.

I don't think that France team is likely to be put out.

I'd expect Gallas at CB with Clerc at RB, no Thuram, and probably Abidal ahead of Evra.

I don't think Trezeguet will start either, he only got called up because Benzema pulled out, & I don't think Ben Arfa will start either. I reckon they might go 4-3-3/4-5-1 to pack the midfield a bit more, Makelele v probably 3 CMs doesn't seem smart.

Anyway back to England, Rio has been confirmed as captain! Great news, he deserves it, he's been brilliant this season and with all the controversy around refs atm he's certainly less in the middle of it than Terry...

[Trim]

France will play like this, imo:

Coupet
Clerc - Thuram - Gallas - Abidal
Toulalan - Makelele
Ribery - Malouda
Anelka -Trezeguet

[Trim]

Ferdinand Made Captain For France Friendly

Fabio Capello has announced that Rio Ferdinand will captain the England team in the friendly international against France on Wednesday evening.

The Manchester United defender has been give the responsibility of skippering the Three Lions in Paris after a heated debate in the media about who would be given the armband.

Ferdinand was a doubt for the fixture with a back injury, but having played in the Red Devils' win against Liverpool has now been given the green light to play for England.

John Terry, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Michael Owen were all in the frame to be named as captain as Capello continues to give different players the chance to prove themselves as leaders in the friendly games.

“Fabio Capello has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will captain England against France tomorrow night in Paris," a statement from the Football Association said.

“Capello has confirmed this continues his policy of rotating the captaincy between players in the friendly matches before confirming a permanent captain for the World Cup qualifying games.”

Goal.com - Internationals - Ferdinand Made Captain For France Friendly

[pirate]

I think France will win.

[kyan]

Winning isn't what the game is about, it's a friendly. What's important is how the teams play...

As long as England play good passing football when in possession and looks solid defensively (i.e. as if they're making progress) I'll be happy.

[Sven]

Rio as cpt interests me, no dowt outstanding player, i can't find a single flaw in him this season, but he is still retard to me, allwys will be, Fabio being smart me thinks , keeping terry on his heels.

[Olzy]

1-0 down. Pass pass. Playing some decent football at times.

But not threatening.

My only moans are Wes Brown as right back I dont particularly rate him going forward and not that great on the ball.

Plus Barry and Hargreaves in the midfield. Over Carrick shocking.

Beckham has played good so far.

Rooney keeps coming for the ball. So we dont have striker at times./

[ReMad]

1st Goal for France - Ribery (PK) [including Anelka's flip over James]
Click Here for Video

[Olzy]

No attacking midfielder 2nd half.

Barry and Hargreaves tend to be deep and never get in the box.

Interesting.

Good Downing is on we need some width/pace.

[ReMad]

Anelka's shot goes over the crossbar
Click Here for Video

[Olzy]

Downing has 2 poor first touches. One when through on goal and then from an excellent spread of play from Becks.

I hope he takes both if not one of the midfielder pairing. They both sitting on the half way line and walking pace.

Wes Brown has looked poor today. Please dont play him again Mr Capello. He doesnt bust a gut to get back into position his crossing is fucking shite.

[jec1]

There was contact, Anelka looked like he was auditioning for the acrobatic club.

[Olzy]

wow our midfield is pretty much non existant, not working as a pair, not getting any of the 2nd balls near the box or anything. Very easy for France 2nd half.

Is there no other cm's on the bench??????