Anybody would be an upgrade over Mexes right now.

Ramos vs Benzema.

Benzema strikes me as a lad who spent so much time working to become what Mourinho wanted him to be for Real, that it's a bit troubling for him now to adjust to another system, with different players.

Logic suggests that he adjusts his playing style to fit the team, but it's not helped by the fact that Blanc tells him to play the way he does for Real. meaning, dropping, combining, playmaking etc... Thing is that the other players dont adjust to that style since it's so uncommon.

So in a way it's Benzema's responsibility to change up, and to adapt himself to his team, because the others certainly wont do it. I dont think it will happen this tourney tho, Blanc should take a queue and start him Giroud.

Zealous wrote:Why is Koscielny being heralded as the next Baresi? LOL

Sure he's good but I've seen him screw up enough times to see why Blanc doesn't start him especially in a big tournament.

I wasn't saying that he was da next baresi or Maldini or anything of an italian great, he's just clearly a promising centre back whose coming off a strong end of a season.
I think he's been hard done by to not be starting ahead of these 2, the mistake alone that Mexes made vs ukraine was horrendous enough for him to be relegated tbh his concentration must be elsewhere it's simply unforgiveable at this level.

Oh and Koscielny is far more suited to handling Torres than Mexes, or Rami for that matter they look a bit to slow, Blanc should know this he was a legendary defender after all.

I was speaking about others in general, not just you Gemini.

My problem with Kos is that he strikes me as naive. He's a great individual defender but I don't think he communicates with his partner enough and at times his positioning and decision making can make him commit mistakes.

Anyway we'll see what happens, he might prove me wrong in the end.

Koscielny is not as good as Arsenal fans make out but I do rate him as he is certainly much better option than Mexes

Wonder whether Torres or Fabregas will start

Allez les bleus!

IMO, France needs to play a defensive 433. They should play with two fast wingers (Menez and Ben Arfa for instances) and Benzema at top and 3 defensive midfielders: Diarra, M'Vila/Matuidi and Cabaye (Cabaye is not so defensive but could be the link to lead the counters.

Everyone working their ass off and putting 10 men behind the ball. Maybe if they do this they have a chance.

Zealous wrote:

free_cat wrote:Allez les bleus!

IMO, France needs to play a defensive 433. They should play with two fast wingers (Menez and Ben Arfa for instances) and Benzema at top and 3 defensive midfielders: Diarra, M'Vila/Matuidi and Cabaye (Cabaye is not so defensive but could be the link to lead the counters.

Everyone working their ass off and putting 10 men behind the ball. Maybe if they do this they have a chance.

Agree, Diarra, M'Villa and Cabaye.

Problem is, for those fast winger to play, that means Ribery and Nasri to be dropped. Which isnt going to happen.

free_cat wrote:Allez les bleus!

IMO, France needs to play a defensive 433. They should play with two fast wingers (Menez and Ben Arfa for instances) and Benzema at top and 3 defensive midfielders: Diarra, M'Vila/Matuidi and Cabaye (Cabaye is not so defensive but could be the link to lead the counters.

Everyone working their ass off and putting 10 men behind the ball. Maybe if they do this they have a chance.

You say Cabaye is'nt very defensive but France conceded 2 more goals in 1 game from open play than they did without him

And he has a combined 207 tackles and interceptions this season

despite the fact it he is'nt actually a DM he probably does the job better than M'vila

Also Ben Arfa wont start for a bunch of reasons.... it will definitely be Menez.

anyway.....

Zeal

Also Dani, Nasri might be dropped due to some dressing room issues with Blanc..... Ben Arfa wont play for similar reasons but Nasri is more at fault.

Front 3 will probably be Ribery-Benzema-Menez..... it's a good thing Nasri gets dropped IMO he doesnt pass to anyone other than Ribery or Benzema it's like a 3 a side game with them 3 ffs only passing to each other and ignore the rest of the team.

Yeah, you told us that Cabaye is very good defensively.

Anyway, Ribery-Benzema-Menez is good enough. If the midfield is Cabaye, Diarra and Matuidi/M'Vila, and the wings work they ass off, they have a chance.

Allez les Bleus!

Zealous wrote:

That would make an incredible children's book.

free_cat wrote:Yeah, you told us that Cabaye is very good defensively.

Anyway, Ribery-Benzema-Menez is good enough. If the midfield is Cabaye, Diarra and Matuidi/M'Vila, and the wings work they ass off, they have a chance.

Allez les Bleus!

It's quite frankly the best team France have to combat Spain..... 2 attacking fullbacks to pin them back, 3 midfielders that are very good defensively and 2 of them have very good passing range and 2 very fast, tricky, direct wingers.

If they play like a team and stick to a plan, they can definitely beat Spain with such a line up.

Spoiler:

Oh yeah Benzema need's to understand he's not a midfielder lol.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:
Oh yeah Benzema need's to understand he's not a midfielder lol.

I don't think that will be a problem if they play counter attack.

France has to defend deep, and press strongly when Alonso or Arbeloa have the ball.

Was it mentioned somewhere? Spain never won an official game against France

Xavi children's book

Mr Nick09 wrote:

Not going to happen Not even in your dreams

Hope Nasri is benched. I would rather play a 4-5-1 with Ribery and Menez on the wings with Martin, M'Vila and Cabaye in the middle. Benzema upfront.

I believe the possession stats won't be over the top because France can retain the ball really well. Unless spain tries to piss them off with backward passing for 60 minutes lol

4-3-3 with Martin and Cabaye in the middle?

Think id rather Spain won this, apart from the fact i'm half Spanish i'd like to see Cabaye and Ben Arfa go on thier holidays and as quick as possible so they can be ready for pre-season to be ready for the EL campaign we have coming up.

Also it should put an end to the Debuchy saga rather quickly, one way or another.

Debuchy vs Alba.

Young Benzema

Rumours that Anthony Reveillere will start for France tonight and Samir Nasri will be on the bench

Debuchy injured?