Do you think he is getting his selection right and maximizing the squad?
France national team | Martial ruled out due to injury, Lemar replaces him
- Thread starter Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87
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Up until today? Yes absolutely, he took a team with bad attitude and poor quality because unlike what some seem to think, France on paper didn't had a team with particularly good potential until 2016, the potential players were between 17 and 21 years old and just breaking out at club level. We had shit fullbacks, poor wide players and shaky CBs. Deschamps reached every goals that he had, WC quarter final and Euro semi final.
Now, the expectations will be to win the Euro or the WC with this generation, they are still too green but in a couple of years if these players don't disappear at club level, France should be favorite for every competitions. If he is the manager and fails then he will deserve to be blamed but not today.
I looked at their starting line ups for the last 5 or 6 games and he started 1. They seem to prefer Rami and Umtiti as a partnership
He's had a few fitness issues but really if he is okay then he is far ahead of Rami who is average
Varane is vice captain, he is probably the second player on the team sheet when fit.
Edit: And Rami hadn't play for France since November 2016.
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Fair enough. I hope he plays because he's brilliant.
I did a £2 eight-fold accumulator at the start of the season (Real to win the CL, Juve the Italian League, Swansea to get relegated, Fulham to get promoted, Bayern, Celtic & PSG to win their leagues) And all that is left is France to win the World Cup. Then my £2 becomes £2,111. Vive la France!
*(Although as an Englishman myself, I am hoping for a France vs England final so that it's win-win for me)
Just out of curiosity, I don't gamble but curious how much money you'd make even if you got the world cup prediction wrong? Or does this only pay out if you get everything correct?
And just to stay a bit on topic, no matter how Pogba performed, it's a disgrace to hear some fans booing any player of the France NT, especially when we're beating Italy 3-1, that's just ridiculous and disappointing.
Have to get them all i'm afraid. Skybet did get hold of me and offered me £260 to cash out. But that's only a bit over 10% of what I earn if France do win it. And with Kante, Pogba, Lemar, Griezmann, Mbappe, Dembele and co, they should at least be getting to the semi's imo.
I see Pogba was booed off last night - his stock is dissolving quicker than an oxo cube
Hope we already have an arrangement in place to sell him this summer to Juventus
Hope we already have an arrangement in place to sell him this summer to Juventus
By a minority and mainly because his passing was bland. He kept it simple alright but too simple, however I liked his game because as long as he cuts back of the needless stuff he'll improve. The problem is now if he sees to whistle as criticism for him to play within myself and tries to play hero ball in the next match. It's hard to have a middle ground with him
Anyone else find it a bit mad that Giroud is now France's 4th all time top scorer? He'll soon overtake Trezeguet into 3rd and be behind only Henry and Platini.
You can make fun of the player for his club performances but he keeps finding the back of the net for France, so it's not that surprising.
International form trumps club form when you play for national team.
He's physically and mentally built for International football.
Always felt Giroud has been underrated for club and country. Yes not the most flashy or technical forward around but he always tries his best and scores a good amount.
Wouldn't have him as a starter (hope Deschamps goes with front three of Dembele-Griez-Mbappe) but terrific option off the bench.
Wouldn't have him as a starter (hope Deschamps goes with front three of Dembele-Griez-Mbappe) but terrific option off the bench.
They mustn't lay off. Odd.
Giroud gets a lot of crap, and I've been guilty of dishing some his way myself but he has been very efficient and deserves what he's gotten. He is frustrating because he is incredibly limited outside of the surface of the goal, and it sticks out like a sore thumb when you have players like Mbappe, Griezmann, or Dembele running alongside him. He's not as good with quick-link up passes, and he's not the right fit for a counter-attack like those other players are, but he gets the job done in ways those other players cannot. He can bully defenders on set pieces, and we will definitely need that as well. I wouldn't count him out as the starter just yet.
Not at all, he deserves much more respect than he gets. He is a totally different player for the national team than at club level. If you look at most of his goals for France, they're actually very good finishes mostly. Some players are just meant to perform better for their countries. He deserves to start without a doubt and definitely over Dembelé but it's nice to have options in case he doesn't perform in a specific game.
The problem with him is that people don't watch him play for France and assume the Giroud they see at club level (in terms of stats specially) is the same one for France.
You are describing his as some kind of big lump yet quick link up plays are one of his strengths, not as good as Benz but still very good
No, it's not; not when you compare him to France's other options, hence the 'not as good'.
Contrary to players like Trezeguet, Giroud didn't suffer from a fierce competition for diverse reasons.
Fecking Giroud.
So much talent in that team yet he is probably starting their first game at this WC. I don't get it.
So much talent in that team yet he is probably starting their first game at this WC. I don't get it.
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One of the best and strongest target man you can get for International Football.
What's not to get ?
Giroud might be the luckiest french striker ever selected.Ahead ofBenzema..lacazette..martial..etc.
He really isn't.
Benzema doesn't play for France anymore(hasn't played for them in almost 3 years)
Martial doesn't play striker , either for France or United.
You can see with comments like this that some just look at the popular named and expect them to be in squads.
And he outperformed all of them.
Well, read the sentence above.
The game against Italy was good example that they can play without target man just fine.
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One of the primary reasons for Giroud's inclusion aswell is that he gives them variety. He offers something completely different from the other forwards. What's the point of bringing Lacazette when you already have similar superior players in the same position like Griezmann. If Griezmann goes down Mbappe can play that role. He wouldn't offer anything different or new and is inferior to the aforementioned. Giroud could actually change a game with his style if France needed to switch things up tactically.
I agree, he does offer something different to the team, but I don't think he should be starting, which probably is going to happen.
Think Pavard and Hernandez should start, brilliant talents imo.
Once again, some subs showed they were way better than the starters but yeah "Didier knows what he is doing"
- That new 442 with Griezmann as n10 is actually worse than the 433. Thankfully the individualities should be enough for the group stage.
- Mendy, as expected, is not fit.
- Lloris... doing some Lloris
- Matuidi - Pogba: no improvement since 2016.
- Thauvin: useless. Lacazette should have been more useful given Giroud's loneliness. He would have bring some presence on the defense and combinaisons, it's not really what Griezmann and MBappe bring.
Well we may finally have Pavard, Hernandez, Tolisso and perhaps Fekir... or not... Deschamps said that he has his team and those games were just "lessons"
If we have had today's final team a long time ago, we would only have to talk about the animation and the improvement of the cohesion now. But as before the euro: France will go to Russia without a team
- That new 442 with Griezmann as n10 is actually worse than the 433. Thankfully the individualities should be enough for the group stage.
- Mendy, as expected, is not fit.
- Lloris... doing some Lloris
- Matuidi - Pogba: no improvement since 2016.
- Thauvin: useless. Lacazette should have been more useful given Giroud's loneliness. He would have bring some presence on the defense and combinaisons, it's not really what Griezmann and MBappe bring.
Well we may finally have Pavard, Hernandez, Tolisso and perhaps Fekir... or not... Deschamps said that he has his team and those games were just "lessons"
If we have had today's final team a long time ago, we would only have to talk about the animation and the improvement of the cohesion now. But as before the euro: France will go to Russia without a team
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Unfortunately, Deschamps wasn't in a perfect position to make secure a starting 11 because:
LB: This season, Benjamin Mendy had a long-term injury and Kurzawa didn't meet the expectations at all levels.
RB: Sidibé is a typical modern full-back, better offensively than defensively
CB: on paper Barcelona + Real Madrid should be good but...
FB: these days, France needs to deploy central defenders as full-back
CM: the material is good even if it's always hard to assess an atypical player like Pogba.
WINGERS: Dembélé had a challenging season and was partly injured. The same applied to Coman who is clearly better than Thauvin IMO
CF: M'bappé used to play on the right and Giroud has great stats and a proven partnership with Griezmann. Deschamps refused to choose between these players.
Last but not least, Lloris is no longer the decisive goalkeeper he used to be for Lyon: the conceded goal is annoying
LB: This season, Benjamin Mendy had a long-term injury and Kurzawa didn't meet the expectations at all levels.
RB: Sidibé is a typical modern full-back, better offensively than defensively
CB: on paper Barcelona + Real Madrid should be good but...
FB: these days, France needs to deploy central defenders as full-back
CM: the material is good even if it's always hard to assess an atypical player like Pogba.
WINGERS: Dembélé had a challenging season and was partly injured. The same applied to Coman who is clearly better than Thauvin IMO
CF: M'bappé used to play on the right and Giroud has great stats and a proven partnership with Griezmann. Deschamps refused to choose between these players.
Last but not least, Lloris is no longer the decisive goalkeeper he used to be for Lyon: the conceded goal is annoying
Indeed, we still don't know the starting 11 and the real value of that team.
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Umtiti and Varane don't work together because they are both missing the presence they play with next at club level. One of them has to step up and be the leader of the backline
@Ecstatic
Well the management of the group stays questionable
- GK: DD could have given some competition to Lloris with Ruffier
- LB: think Digne deserved more. Hernandez's first game was against Colombia in March... DD could have take the gamble sooner but ok.
- CB: Umtiti- Varane is not balanced. Umtiti-Kos were fine and Varane - Kos too but not the 1st one. Everyone sees that, why doesn't he try something else ? Kimpembe, Lenglet, Hernandez, Laporte ? Oh because they are playing at FCB and RM so they must be the best in the world,... He has Lenglet on his reserve, but he is waiting that Valverde or Mou take him to do the same ? The worst part is that Umtiti is not even that incredible at FCB whereas it should be easier and he has some loss of concentration issues.
- CM: I must say it's weird that DD waited 2/3 months before WC to try NZonzi. I didn't know there were so many 6 available. Kondogbia: Valence seems not good enough. Rabiot: 6 games in 2 years, half of them as defensive midfielder... Better than Matuidi for PSG but not for DD, Matuidi and Pogba: +20 games (?). Indeed, Their level was so incontestable.
- Offensive players: Thauvin's choice is curious. Lemar's management and his love of MBappé too. He is going to be a starter, ok, give some time to others players who won't. MBappe isn't even than Fekir in France but DD based his judgment on some status and potential more than real level. I can understand Dembele and Coman's issues but what about WBY, Laca and Fekir ? Finally I don't see where is the problem between Giroud and M'Bappé:
433: (Griez) - Giroud - (Mbappe)
442: Giroud (Griez) Mbappé
442*: (Lemar) Giroud Griez (Mbappé)
The only concern is in the 442: Fekir seems to be a better 10 than Griez : Giroud (Fekir) Griezmann may be more balanced.
Anyway, You're right: Deschamps wasn't in a perfect position to make secure a starting 11 but he was to make some tests, use his 30/35 players (the qualifying group was easy) but as usual (Umtiti, Kanté...) he waits. He waits to try players, waits to try formations. He prefers a proven good team than a potential very good one. And he prefers some "top clubs" players than consistent players who could have a place in top clubs. Sure he would have choice Sané over Brandt.
Well the management of the group stays questionable
- GK: DD could have given some competition to Lloris with Ruffier
- LB: think Digne deserved more. Hernandez's first game was against Colombia in March... DD could have take the gamble sooner but ok.
- CB: Umtiti- Varane is not balanced. Umtiti-Kos were fine and Varane - Kos too but not the 1st one. Everyone sees that, why doesn't he try something else ? Kimpembe, Lenglet, Hernandez, Laporte ? Oh because they are playing at FCB and RM so they must be the best in the world,... He has Lenglet on his reserve, but he is waiting that Valverde or Mou take him to do the same ? The worst part is that Umtiti is not even that incredible at FCB whereas it should be easier and he has some loss of concentration issues.
- CM: I must say it's weird that DD waited 2/3 months before WC to try NZonzi. I didn't know there were so many 6 available. Kondogbia: Valence seems not good enough. Rabiot: 6 games in 2 years, half of them as defensive midfielder... Better than Matuidi for PSG but not for DD, Matuidi and Pogba: +20 games (?). Indeed, Their level was so incontestable.
- Offensive players: Thauvin's choice is curious. Lemar's management and his love of MBappé too. He is going to be a starter, ok, give some time to others players who won't. MBappe isn't even than Fekir in France but DD based his judgment on some status and potential more than real level. I can understand Dembele and Coman's issues but what about WBY, Laca and Fekir ? Finally I don't see where is the problem between Giroud and M'Bappé:
433: (Griez) - Giroud - (Mbappe)
442: Giroud (Griez) Mbappé
442*: (Lemar) Giroud Griez (Mbappé)
The only concern is in the 442: Fekir seems to be a better 10 than Griez : Giroud (Fekir) Griezmann may be more balanced.
Anyway, You're right: Deschamps wasn't in a perfect position to make secure a starting 11 but he was to make some tests, use his 30/35 players (the qualifying group was easy) but as usual (Umtiti, Kanté...) he waits. He waits to try players, waits to try formations. He prefers a proven good team than a potential very good one. And he prefers some "top clubs" players than consistent players who could have a place in top clubs. Sure he would have choice Sané over Brandt.
I don't think they will play 433. Deschamps clearly prefers Griezmann as SS than RW. If they use 4231, I think Mbappe and Dembele will start on the flanks. At first I think Lemar will be the LM with Mbappe on the right because it's much more balanced but since Lemar had been so shit last season, I think Dembele will take his place.
Of course if Deschamps ignore his obsession with Giroud, we can see France play 433 with a dream front 3: Mbappe - Griezmann - Dembele.
Of course if Deschamps ignore his obsession with Giroud, we can see France play 433 with a dream front 3: Mbappe - Griezmann - Dembele.
If Giroud recovers he will probably play against Australia & Denmark to match their centerbacks.
That front 3 may be given a chance against Peru but unless they do exceptionnally well, he will revert to his usual formation for the first KO game.
The team that started yesterday is his first 11. I could see Tolisso starting a game or 2 ahead of Matuidi.
Pavard deserve to start too but i won't happen unless Sidibé is not deemed fit enough next week.
Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti aint got nothing on Trent Sainsbury. Giroud FC is gonna have a hard time scoring against that backline. Especially with Matt "The GOAT" Ryan behind that back line. 
Yours sincerely, a deluded aussie.
P.S. I actually do rate those two in particular but I'm still terrified of France haha, especially Griezmann. Looking forward to Mooy vs Pogba too!
Yours sincerely, a deluded aussie.
P.S. I actually do rate those two in particular but I'm still terrified of France haha, especially Griezmann. Looking forward to Mooy vs Pogba too!
In short, Giroud is France's Fellaini.
In that he actually plays well for his national team but is unfairly derided by clueless football fans? Sounds about right.