abidal - Most popular for 2008
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Yes, we are liveblogging this game. Since I am a hardcore France fan and my co-blogger Chris is a
hardcore Italy fan, we decided to have this game liveblogged by a neutral -- Daryl, The Offside's
editor. So be sure to stop by this site and leave
Following France's 0-0 draw against Romania to start Euro 2008, our man at Reuters, Patrick Vignal, brings us some quotes from France defender William Gallas, including the nearly contradictory claims that he thinks France "played with the handbrake on" and that "it's impossible to understand" why the French fans would
Azzurri - Les Blues! Do or die! The World Cup finalists on the edge of elimination.
France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan,
Makelele, Ribery, Benzema, Henry.
Subs: Mandanda, Frey,
Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci,
Gomis, Sagnol, Diarra.
Dear Raymond:
Can I call you Raymond? After almost two years of blogging about your team, I feel like we're
friends.
And I like you. Truly, I do. I want to say that first. I find you entertaining, and your sense
of humor sharp and dry (just like I like it), and your ability to deflect criticism from your
players and onto yourself second to none.
As I survey the shattered particles of the so-called Group of Death, scattered like so many
discarded Legos at the feet of Marco Van Basten, I have to wonder. Like everyone else, I have
developed an enormous man-crush on this Holland team, which so casually dispatched its group
opponents and, into the bargain, seems intent on playing football about as lovely as can be played
under the modern conditions of production.
The "biscuits" are only Scandinavian. The miracle of bern repeats itself, but this time
it is Italian and not German, like in the 1954 World Cup. Italy gets rid of the Portuguese
nightmare and advances to the second round. Italy was great against France and while they beat the
French team coached by Domenech 2-0, something they have not done in regular time since the 1978
World Cup, The Netherlands beat Romania 2-0, allowing us to advance to the quarterfinals that will
be played on Sunday, the 22nd, in Vienna, against Spain.
Las informaciones que apuntan a una posible salida de Zhirkov, lateral izquierdo del CSKA de
Moscú, con destino al Fútbol Club Barcelona o al Real Madrid se hicieron públicas
este fin de semana. Incluso la agencia de noticias Ria Novosti anunció que el conjunto
culé había mantenido contactos con la directiva del club moscovita.
Neither Thierry Henry nor Patrick Vieira were fit to face Romania, so Nicolas Anelka and Jeremy
Toulalan started. France generated very little going forward. Anelka headed one over. Benzema hit
one or two right at the keeper. Gomis, when he came on, could hardly get a touch.
There was a short spell at the start of the second half when France looked ok, but for most of the
game, they didn't look like they deserved any more than a point against Romania.
Domenech said he was hesitating about 4 positions for which there may be players who are stronger
than the players who started against Romania.
One of those is probably Henry coming in for Anelka.
Another that he's hesitating about would be Vieira for Toulalan. I gather that might be a tough
call.
France's defense, and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, were hammered by the Netherlands for 4 goals.
France actually played fairly well in stretches, and created many chances to score, but on 4
occasions, France couldn't keep the Dutch out. Malouda was beaten badly for the opener, letting
Kuyt head a goal into the back of the net.
