Pilloried Domenech to ring in changes
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2010, Wednesday
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FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech may have to make changes for tomorrow's match against Mexico after the dull 0-0 draw with Uruguay exposed the limitations of France's attack and its lack of teamwork.
Top scorer Thierry Henry is in contention to replace Nicolas Anelka up front, with Florent Malouda also pushing for a return after Domenech surprisingly dropped him against Uruguay despite picking him in all the warmup matches.
France defender Eric Abidal is among those favorable to Henry's return, saying that "Thierry has proved a lot in the French team" and that his will to win and can inspire the other players.
Malouda's omission coincided with reports that he had argued with Domenech in training the day before.
"Malouda to the rescue!" L'Equipe said on its front page yesterday, with a panel including former France managers and players mostly agreeing that he deserves his place.
Domenech could switch Franck Ribery over to the right flank, so that Malouda could take his place on the left wing, or Malouda could come in for midfielder Yoann Gourcuff to avoid having to change the formation.
Whatever system Domenech seems to try, the team has trouble scoring, despite boasting some of Europe's best forwards.
"A lot of teams have a lot of potential and can't score," Abidal added. "You're coming up against teams who give everything."
That argument does little to convince former greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Just Fontaine.
"The hardest thing is that there is no teamwork. They didn't play together and it was more a case of individual efforts," Zidane told Canal Plus television. "The players must take responsibility for themselves."
Zidane thinks that the squad is not as united as the players claim it is.
"You must put your ego to one side and work together," he said. "Teamwork is the most important thing, and that's not what we saw during the (Uruguay) match."
Fontaine, who scored 30 goals in just 21 games for France, targeted Ribery for his selfish attitude.
"One day we were silly enough to say he was the brains behind the team, and he has believed it ever since," Fontaine said. "He dribbles seven players, but the eighth one takes the ball off him."
Top scorer Thierry Henry is in contention to replace Nicolas Anelka up front, with Florent Malouda also pushing for a return after Domenech surprisingly dropped him against Uruguay despite picking him in all the warmup matches.
France defender Eric Abidal is among those favorable to Henry's return, saying that "Thierry has proved a lot in the French team" and that his will to win and can inspire the other players.
Malouda's omission coincided with reports that he had argued with Domenech in training the day before.
"Malouda to the rescue!" L'Equipe said on its front page yesterday, with a panel including former France managers and players mostly agreeing that he deserves his place.
Domenech could switch Franck Ribery over to the right flank, so that Malouda could take his place on the left wing, or Malouda could come in for midfielder Yoann Gourcuff to avoid having to change the formation.
Whatever system Domenech seems to try, the team has trouble scoring, despite boasting some of Europe's best forwards.
"A lot of teams have a lot of potential and can't score," Abidal added. "You're coming up against teams who give everything."
That argument does little to convince former greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Just Fontaine.
"The hardest thing is that there is no teamwork. They didn't play together and it was more a case of individual efforts," Zidane told Canal Plus television. "The players must take responsibility for themselves."
Zidane thinks that the squad is not as united as the players claim it is.
"You must put your ego to one side and work together," he said. "Teamwork is the most important thing, and that's not what we saw during the (Uruguay) match."
Fontaine, who scored 30 goals in just 21 games for France, targeted Ribery for his selfish attitude.
"One day we were silly enough to say he was the brains behind the team, and he has believed it ever since," Fontaine said. "He dribbles seven players, but the eighth one takes the ball off him."
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