France v. Spain Leg 2: The group final

Dat goallegacy jinx spain sends you its thanks sports

Benz was utterly atrocious last night... worse player on the pitch for France among the starters. Good thing Menez came in because otherwise Benz would have been the worse. Menez acted like he didn't want to be in there lol.

The whole "class of 87" group have been utterly disappointing.

I like Benzema a lot as a player, but his recent level of play in the NT, his inability to score and the fact that he has spoken out against singing the national anthem put him in a very weak position in the team.

Giroud has been better lately (even if he horribly missed another opportuniy yesterday).

I think that Benzema lacks the fire for international football, he isn't pumped to play for the NT like he should be. He is just thinking it as a good career booster.

How long is Alba's injury for?

I think Benz has lost his "lead player" mentality at Madrid. His entire game has been rebuilt to fit in alongside CR7. On NT, he can't just take out all the training he's had for 3 years at Madrid.

It's a shame because 2 years ago, he was great at NT. Even when he was crushing it last year at club, he was already becoming average at NT.

Madrid has castrated him. He needs to leave asap. All the talent is there. His role at club and NT are too divergent. If he wants to be a lead players, it won't happen while playing next to CR7.

And nobody cares about the national anthem other than extremists. Nobody in the 80s teams sang it. Neither did Zidane, Vieira or others recently. It's a personal choice... i think the criticism he's getting on this is frankly disgusting.

Alba

Former France coach Raymond Domenech believes that Karim Benzema's performance against Georgia on Friday has shown that the Real Madrid striker is "useless".

The former Olympique Lyonnais man has not scored for his country in 929 minutes of football and was roundly booed by Bleus fans after refusing to sing the Marseillaise before the match.

And Domenech feels Franck Ribery was also a disappointment, but was impressed with the performances of Blaise Matuidi and Mathieu Valbuena.

"I had already said it: Benzema confirms his uselessness and Ribery is still inconsistent. But that was before!" he wrote on Twitter.

"Valbuena and Matuidi are certain to face Spain. Ribery will also play Spain."

However, Benzema's striker partner, Olivier Giroud has defended Benzema's performance against the Georgians.

"He created chances. I was trying to set him up too. I was trying to find it. It's a partnership that could work and we achieved a lot tonight. There are no problems."

During Domenech's six-year tenure in charge of France, he had many well-publicised rows with players, most notably Nicolas Anelka at the 2006 World Cup.

Sports is afraid of the GL jinx and changed his title

Also Domenech, what a joke of a coach

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Sports is afraid of the GL jinx and changed his title

Also Domenech, what a joke of a coach

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I just pray that Cesc is the false 9

Yohan Modric wrote:Former France coach Raymond Domenech believes that Karim Benzema's performance against Georgia on Friday has shown that the Real Madrid striker is "useless".

It took so long for people to figure it out.

Spoiler:

Menez always looks like he doesn't care


Benzema's form is worrying but i understand why DD is still giving him chances.
it's like his first year at RM when he was so bad that every RM fan wanted him gone ... you must support one of your best player when he is not doing good. but benching him a few times would be ok

Good stat for the frenchies:

SPAIN has never beaten a major nation on away soil in their Golden era.

AltoZ wrote:Good stat for the frenchies:

SPAIN has never beaten a major nation on away soil in their Golden era.

Well , barely means anything imo. They rarely play against a major nation in group stages .
France has a real chance though if the youg ones don't crumble under pressure + Benzema stop being a ghost + Ribéry at his best

England - Spain 1-0
Argentina - Spain 4-1
Italy - Spain 2-1
Etc.

All friendlies

Still Spain

Villa falling off form made them playable in the last Euro although they won. Xavi falling off form makes pretty much has taken away their advantage... the dominance is over imo. Spain is just one of the elite now, not the elite.

France have played them enough times now that they're adjusting. It's similar to Madrid and Barca. The first one, France played scared and lost 2-0. The last one, France attacked the last 35 mins and got a well deserved draw away. This coming game, i expect France to take it to Spain even more. With a midfield of Pogba-Cabaye-Matuidi, there's nothing to be afraid of. In the first game, it was Diarra-Cabaye-Debuchy playing mid lol. No comparison.

Sakho-Varane is a lot more solid than Rami-Mexes too.

The only reason France got something out of the last game was Alonso playing as a lone holding midfielder with both Pique and Puyol injured so that Busquets had to play CB.

sportsczy wrote:Villa falling off form made them playable in the last Euro although they won. Xavi falling off form makes pretty much has taken away their advantage... the dominance is over imo. Spain is just one of the elite now, not the elite.

France have played them enough times now that they're adjusting. It's similar to Madrid and Barca. The first one, France played scared and lost 2-0. The last one, France attacked the last 35 mins and got a well deserved draw away. This coming game, i expect France to take it to Spain even more. With a midfield of Pogba-Cabaye-Matuidi, there's nothing to be afraid of. In the first game, it was Diarra-Cabaye-Debuchy playing mid lol. No comparison.

Sakho-Varane is a lot more solid than Rami-Mexes too.

It's well know that spain is not as strong as before . France has a real chance here but anyways i don't see Spain missing the WC .
But getting the 1st place would restore France's confidence.

Bench pathetic Arbeloa and Spain should be fine.

sportsczy wrote:Alba is injured... hamstring. Not good news for France tbh. I rate Monreal higher.

You gotta be kidding me...

Anyways Spain's gonna win... Well juz imagine if the reigning champions and best team in the world doesn't make the world cup...???

That's criminal!

El Gunner wrote:

sportsczy wrote:Alba is injured... hamstring. Not good news for France tbh. I rate Monreal higher.

You gotta be kidding me...

Anyways Spain's gonna win... Well juz imagine if the reigning champions and best team in the world doesn't make the world cup...???

That's criminal!

They will imo. Even if they only get the 2nd place , they are going to win the barrages .

I usually dont follow qualifiers much. The Top 2 teams in the Group advance to the WC right?

juventus101 wrote:I usually dont follow qualifiers much. The Top 2 teams in the Group advance to the WC right?

No. Only the group winners are guaranteed (9 of them). For the other 4 spots, the top 8 second place teams go into a playoff. A random draw occurs with 4 home-and-away ties that will decide the final 4 teams.

You usually have very tough teams in this. For example, as of right now, you're looking at Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, England and Bulgaria being in the playoff. That's hugely tough.

futbol wrote:The only reason France got something out of the last game was Alonso playing as a lone holding midfielder with both Pique and Puyol injured so that Busquets had to play CB.

Really? That's the ONLY reason? lol

Zealous wrote:

futbol wrote:The only reason France got something out of the last game was Alonso playing as a lone holding midfielder with both Pique and Puyol injured so that Busquets had to play CB.

Really? That's the ONLY reason? lol