We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
France are, to my mind, the most underated side in this tournament. No one's talking about them, despite their favored status in 2002. Alright, they've suffered two disappointing tournaments in a row, but just how bad can they be with TH-14 up top? Join me to find out as they take on the Swiss.
posted by gatorbob @ 12:00 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
45 Comments:
Here are the sides:
FRANCE
16. Fabien Barthez
3. Eric Abidal
5. William Gallas
15. Lilian Thuram
19. Willy Sagnol
10. Zinedine Zidane
6. Claude Makelele
4. Patrick Vieira
22. Franck Ribery
11. Sylvain Wiltord
12. Thierry Henry
SWITZERLAND
1. Pascal Zuberbuhler
3. Ludovic Magnin
4. Philippe Senderos
20. Patrick Muller
23. Philipp Degen
7. Ricardo Cabanas
6. Johann Vogel
8. Raphael Wicky
16. Tranquillo Barnetta
9. Alexander Frei
11. Marco Streller
Very interested to see Frank Ribery, this new 22 year old who I've yet to see much. Interesting that Domenech has favored Sylvain Wiltord - who's rebuilt his career at Lyons - in favor of David Trezeguet, who's had a shocker of a season for Juve. I might still favor a big man alongside TH, who again is showing that he doesn't fancy the balls to his noggin. A lot will depend on the aging legs of one Zizou.
These sides must know each other well. Senderos gets several scrimmages a week against TH at the Arse. He must know all the tricks and moves, but can he stop the great man?
TH doesn't tend to play as well for Les Bleus as for the Arse. I'd love to see him tear it up at this tournament - that is, unless they play the Engerlund.
After this morning's result, with Korea pulling it out, the pressure is on these two sides, especially the Swiss who must know that they're playing for the second spot. Can they get a draw out of this match? That'll certainly be what they're playing for. I don't see a lot of ambition from them so far. Just soaking up early pressure from France.
The ESPN announcers are pointing out that the Swiss are the second youngest squad in the tournament, palyign against one of the oldest squads. Might make a difference - the sun is out and it must be pretty hot. The earlier game was played with the roof over, but they're out there baking in the sunshine now. The French could wilt in the second half.
First good chance for France - unfortunately it drops to Vieira at the back post and he scuffs it over the top.
This Ribery kid looks full of running so far, a little like Youri Djourkaeff in running style. Could be a useful foil for the slower paced Zidane today.
After watching a bunch of matches with African sides in them, this one is starting to get rather dull. Very cagey, European style game with few chances so far.
Nice long range effort from Barnette, caught easily by Barthez. Never expected to see his shiny bonce again, once Coupet came on the scene. Another mysterious choice by Domenech. he'll either be a goal or a hero after this competition.
Nice cut back from TH but no one home for France. This is the problem with not playing an out and out striker like Trez, who certainly would've been bombing in for France. Will they miss the colorful do of Cisse, who broke his leg in a friendly?
Free kick for the Swiss in a dangerous position. Frei to line it up....
Now, Frei walking to the back post....
OOOOOHHHHHH, the shot went off the post and bounced back for a complete sitter. How did Frei miss? Miss of the Cup so far, one for the blooper reel.
To be fair to Frei, it was bouncing up a bit high for him. Yet, you'd think that he could have even kneed it into the net from that range - or stooped to head it?
I remember last time around there was a lot of build up for Frei and he didn't deliver. He scores a lot of goals for Rennes, but he didn't look the part there.
Barthez makes an adventure of a routine cross. I'm sure that United fans remember those moments of madness with fond nostalgia.
The French are already starting to get a bit frustrated - and sweaty. Must be really hot out there. I'm hoping for a cold snap for Thursday otherwise I'm afraid Crouchie will expire.
The Swiss are doing really well holding off the French, playing them deep at the back. The last thing they want to do is to try and hold a high line against TH and Wiltord. They've done their homework.
Close thing for Ribery, just over the top.
The only good thing about this being a boring match is that we haven't been treated to the trademark "Oh baby" scream of Shep Messing. He has treated us to several anecdotes about playing with the Cosmos, though. What a wanker!
The French squander a golden opportunity. Ribery is alone in the box but decides to square it to TH instead of shooting; the ball is behind TH and he struggles to get the shot off. There was a call for a handball on Muller, but the ref's not having it.
Great ball from Zizou to TH on the left. TH cuts inside but then the shot is weak. The problem the French are having is that they're playing with essentially two wide men in Henry and Wiltord and two of what Herbert Chapman would recognize as "inside forwards," but no one who is the target man and poacher up front. They really should be in front by now.
Oh dear, TH is down on the turf. Not a good sight for either Les Bleus or Les Arse. The Swiss are hesitating before putting the ball out, lots of whistles from the crowd. Still the play goes on, and finally it's out for a throw.
Vogel seems to be picking up a yellow for some reason, maybe for a foul of Henry. Henry back on the pitch - good news.
But the French are bellowing out the boos.
Just about time for a goal; the best time to score, just before the half.
The French walking it now. They seem happy to go in for a half time cuppa and some orange slices (or whatever the French have for half time - vin rouge and a ciggie?) and this seems to be petering out to a draw at the half.
The worst match so far.
Claude Makelele gets a Swiss player into trouble with the ref by rocketing the ball off him while lining up a free kick. A bit of gamesmanship but it might hurt the Swiss down the line.
Half-time: 0-0; A complete bore. Two Euro sides who know each other well and have cancelled each other out. The Swiss will be the happier side going in at the half.
Well, this can only get better as the second half begins. The French are moving it about well but the final shot - as with Vieira's there - has been woeful. This doesn't bode well for their tournament. Remember that they went through the three matches in Japanorea without scoring a goal. That means they've now gone through more than 300 hundred minutes of WC play without a goal.
Ribery's got a head wound from some scuffle.
Domenech must be thinking about going to Trez soon; I know the thinking in France is that TH and Trez can't play together, but the Bleus need a spark from somewhere and without Cisse as an option, it'll have to be Trez.
Daniel Gygax is coming on for the Swiss.
Yellow card for Switzerland's Gegen. Just a cynical tug on Zidane. That's the strategy for the Swiss right now; they're just trying to frustrate the creativity of the French.
The French must be thinking that a draw will be disastrous here. With Korea and Togo to come they can't be assured of a cake-walk. Togo looked dangerous and full of running today and you can never count out Korea with Ahn coming off the bench to heroic effect. A point just won't do here.
As for the Swiss, I'm not sure that they have a plan to get through to the Round of 16. They're WC is right here and now.
A bit more purpose from the French forwards but again Philippe Senderos is equal to them. I wondered if he had the pace to keep up with the likes of Wiltord and TH, but he's acquitted himself well.
The Swiss have nothing up front; they're barely venturing over the half-way line.
Yellow card for Thuram for kicking the ball away - silly boy, he knows better than that. An indication of the frustration of the French.
Curious punch from Barthez; more madness from the bald man.
Whew! Barthez just pulled his team out of the fire. Unbelievable save off the line after hesitating to come out for the cross. Gygax nearly broke French hearts.
The French under tremendous pressure now; this is not what they expected from this match. I'm sure that they thought this would go to form and they'd have a comfortable win, but the Swiss are really making them work for this. Even if they pull out a win, it'll sap their strength for the later stages.
Another desperate foul from Thuram; he looks knackered. Free kick coming....
Barthez is having a lot of trouble with the sun and shadow combination.
Poor free kick driven low.
Ribery comes off and is replaced by ManYoo's Saha. I'd completely forgotten about him. Let's see if he can fire them up. Still no room for Trez - you'd think that he'd killed one of Domenech's puppies.
Yellow card for Switzerland's Cabanas - they are racking up the cards for late tackles. That'll hurt in the third match.
And another card - this time for Zidane - that hurts. I reckon he talked his way into the book there.
Flashing header from TH there. He really hasn't done that much for his side today. The legend of Henry as a player who doesn't show up for the big games continues.
How can a player of his quality continually fail to perform at the highest stage?
Fifteen minutes left and still no sign of a French goal. The Swiss are making another defensive change - they're happy with a nil-niller.
I just about nodded off there. Blimey, what a bore. I should've taped this so that I could play it when I've got the occasional insomnia. Put me right out, it would.
Allez Les Bleus!
At times it looks as if the French have never played together before. They've got no ideas, no chemistry at all. It's as if they just met before kickoff.
After this performance, England's game with Paraguay looks like Clockwork Orange.
The French are booing the side again, just as they did a few weeks back during a friendly match at the Stade de France. And no wonder; they've been shocking today.
Another Swiss substitution - it seems like their fifth or sixth. Wicky is coming off looking shattered.
The "German heatwave" is taking its toll on another European side, after the Dutch, Portuguese and English suffered earlier.
Pathetic appeals for a penalty after a decent French move.
Now there are several players down in a heap, all looking like they've had enough.
Only about five minutes to go. This is even more bewildering a performance than the one in 2002 against Senegal. There they at least hit the post a couple of times. Here the Swiss have had the better chances, one off the post and one saved well by Barthez.
The interesting Dhorasoo is coming on for France - the first player of Indian descent to ever play in the World Cup.
A botched clearing - one of the first mistakes from the Swiss backline - almost lets in the French, but still they don't have the edge to score. Saha has made no difference at all. And still no Trez. Domenech will certainly get roasted by Le Monde after this one.
Free kick for France - could be the last good chance.....
Oh, the Swiss keeper dropped it, but it's cleared and comes to nothing.
OOOH, the best chance of the match comes to Dhorasoo and he slices it wide after a nice knockdown from Saha.
That could be it for Les Bleus.
Free kick for the Swiss near the touchline....
We're into stoppage time.
Yellow to Sagnol for scuffling in the box.
OOOOHHHH, nearly a last ditch header for the Swiss. Perfect ball. That could've fried the escargot for the French.
Frei picked up a yellow on that chance for trying to handball it into the net. That's got to sting; not only did you not get the ball into the net with the Hand of God, but then you get nicked for it.
Full time: 0-0; Dire stuff. The French side are being booed off the pitch. This will really open up the group, with Korea in pole position and the French licking their wounds and the Swiss still in it.
I'm going to try to wake myself up with some strong coffee and a bit of samba music to get prepared for Brasil. I haven't heard anything from the rest of you lot today, but I'm hoping you'll join me for the Jogo Bonito in an hour.
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