|
The French side for Euro (the coach named 27 players)
Keepers : Hugo Lloris (Lyon - he'll probably play all games, and is the team captain); backups : Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)
Central defenders : Philippe Mexès (Milan), Adel Rami (Valencia - probably exhausted, will also probably surge forward for no reason, causing panic among the French pundits); both are capable of planting a header on a corner kick; backups : Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham - currently injuried), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (first call up - from French surprise champions Montpellier)
Leftbacks : Patrice Evra, Gaël Clichy (both Manchester, different teams); Evra will probably be preferred to Clichy who got named in the team after Abidal's health took him to the hospital
Rightbacks : Matthieu Debuchy (former champions Lille - I do like him, he never gives up), Anthony Réveillère (Lyon - older, but not arthritic)
Main defensive midfielders : Yann M'Vila (Rennes - his form's on the wane), Yohan Cabaye (former champion with Lille, instant hit at Newcastle)
Other defensive midfielders : Alou Diarra (Marseille - I don't see why he's there, but Laurent Blanc likes him), Blaise Matuidi (PSG - no impression at all)
Midfielders : Samir Nasri (Man City champ' - can't be trusted on the whole tournament), Franck Ribéry (Bayern ace - paralysed in a blue shirt)
Other midfielders : Marvin Martin (Sochaux, a team that struggled; former ace assister - will probably be used as a sub for 15 minutes), Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle - will he be given his chance ahead of someone else, someone like...), Florent Malouda (Chelsea underused - unimpressive for France), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille diminutive winger - good but a bit dumb), Michel Platini (Nancy - 1978)
Forwards : Karim Benzéma (Real Madrid - will start all games), Olivier Giroud (French league top scorer for champions Montpellier - impressed and looked comfortable in a blue shirt; alas uneffective for his club's final game), Loïc Rémy (Marseille speedy winger scorer threat - if he ain't injuried), Jérémy Ménez (PSG winger - too many ups and downs)
There's a lack of depth in the team, and senior players do not enjoy themselves, as they're mostly remembered for their bus rebellion in South Africa.
If they're not dragging the team down, they sure don't lift it up.
Sparks from Debuchy, Benzéma, Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Giroud would be appreciated.
They will surely play more than 3 games, but I'd be surprised if they play the semis.
|