http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Echographie-rassurante-pour-sakho/476051

MRI showed nothing muscular. Just a knock. Sakho is available for the game against Ecuador.

I'm viewing the next possible matches and it's ridiculous how we will have Colombia,Germany,Brazil,France,Chile/Holland,Uruguay/Italy in one side of the bracket while the other side is full of scrubs + Argentina and Chile/Holland.

It's criminal how we will have a Germany vs France match in quarter finals already

tbf, France have an easy road to the quarters (on paper). So i'm not complaining Of course, Argentina has it the easiest...

by "road" you mean 1 match (R16).I mean,it's very possible that France, who have been a top 3 team so far, get eliminated in quarter finals already.It sucks when you look at the other bracket and see how the quality is lower

I mean the pool play wasn't that difficult either (although they made it a lot easier for themselves). The teams were beatable for France + times/venues avoided the crazy hot weather. Can't really complain.

We were the worse ranking European team going in and we got the easiest road of all the Europeans. FIFA

That said, both the Euro and FIFA have to stop with this draw bs. Just do full seeding. Like that, every NT would play every game, even friendlies, very seriously. CL and Europa comps should be full seedings too.

rwo power wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:Actually Switzerland didn't go out on goal difference - they were lower on points than Chile. However you are right that they could have gone through if they beat Honduras. Also agree with the rest of your comments. Switzerland could win but it's going to be really tough.

I corrected that already - but you were too fast with your reply  (I'd better check stuff before writing + posting   )

Let's say - Switzerland have to win against Honduras with as many goals as possible, or they are out as they can't rely on France winning against Ecuador, especially if France decide to rest players.

Agreed. Relying on the other result in the last set of the matches can be fatal.

After the close practice yesterday, l'Equipe is predicting this lineup:

Lloris - Sagna, Koscielny, Sakho, Digne - Pogba, Schneiderlin, Matuidi - Sissoko, Benzema, Griezmann

6 new players Never played together either. I don't expect a very good game from France in this one... especially with Sissoko replacing Valbuena.

I dunno what Deschamps will do but id play Sissoko in same role he did against Switzerland and Pogba in Valbuena's position.

I know its not natural for him but i trust his superior talent.

Indeed, this is the likely squad that will start against Ecuador

So France won't help Switzerland

#FRA XI v #ECU: Llloris; Sagna; Koscielny, Sakho, Digne; Pogba, Matuidi, Schneiderlin; Sissoko, Benzema, Griezmann

RealGunner wrote:#FRA XI v #ECU: Llloris; Sagna; Koscielny, Sakho, Digne; Pogba, Matuidi, Schneiderlin; Sissoko, Benzema, Griezmann

Yeah. A brand new team. I think France are going to have it really tough tonight. Very, very defensive.

Should have benched Benzema IMO. He is super important for R16 and Remy could have done a decent job upfront against Ecuador.

He's going for the top scorer thing though... Deschamps will give him a half and then sub him out.

Honduras: Valladares (c) - Beckeles, Bernardez, Figueroa, O.  Garcia - Claros, Espinoza - W.  Palacios, J.  Garcia - Bengtson, Costly



Switzerland: Benaglio - Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Schär, Rodriguez - Behrami, Inler (c) - Shaqiri, G.  Xhaka, Mehmedi - Drmic



Ottmar Hitzfeld shuns the Basel connection again

Shaquiri adding three for the FC Bayern WC goal domination

Shaqiri

France and switzerland through. Honduras out along with Ecuador.

France Vs Nigeria
Switzerland Vs Argentina

France game was zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. France was playing a defensive lineup and Ecuador parked the bus . And then DD pulled a Mourinho and lined up 4 strikers and no AM.... result was a few opportunities (should have scored one for sure at least), but no real continuity.

In the end, there were 6 changes and the team was new.... as a result, the team wasn't cohesive obviously. Won the group and you'll get a normal lineup in the next one.

That was a B squad, France lacked of luck on some actions, Ecuador goalkeeper did great, he saved Ecuador couple of time.
First half was very boring, second one better (probably because of red card) but not amazing.
Nevertheless this game was a game without pressure for France because they were almost qualified unlike Ecuador that was playing his qualification.
Round of 16 will be way more different.