Skip to content

Les Bleus all over?

Image: Raymond Domenech: stratching his head

Ali May's France fears were confirmed after their bore draw with Uruguay.

Ali May expects an early plane back to France for Domenech's men

Oh dear. My worries were fulfilled with the news that Florent Malouda had been dropped from the team for arguing with Raymond Domenech in training. Add that to the fact that William Gallas was all upset Patrice Evra got the armband and the team split over the merits of if Thierry Henry should start or not made for a disjoined team performance. This situation was reminiscent of the great Dutch teams, packed with individual talent, but unable to all play nicely together. If Les Bleus cannot, and I doubt they can, overcome this then it will be an early return home. Most likely to a hate-filled media and fan base alike. Hard to please that lot. The Uruguayan's had no intention of winning this game with Suarez looking more like a £30 player than £30 million. They got the result they wanted together with their obligatory red card.
Inept
Les Bleus huffed and puffed but never really got going. The only significant chance coming early on when Franck Ribery got away down the left and crossed for Sidney Govou, who is junk, to miss from a few yards. I bet Domenech was pleased it was not Henry on the end of that chance! He is tactically inept. I thought Abou Diaby had a good game and also the right back, Bacary Sagna. They looked like they played for a top side and were well coached. I still look at Diaby and wonder if he knows where he is, he always looks so confused, like he is thinking "why are all these people staring at me?". Oh well, he had a good game. So an incredibly dour 0-0 was the final result and now Les Bleus have a few days to fight amongst themselves and try to break the Guinness book of records title for most egos in a squad. I think they can do it providing Nicolas Anelka throws a strop as he is long overdue.
Positive
Can the boys in blue get it sorted for their next game against the Mexicans on Thursday? They are in real need of a positive performance and a positive result. If not then they are going to look very silly for not taking Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema. By the time you read this you will also have found out how England fared against the USA. Can we do better than the French? The team seems settled and Fabio Capello is going about his business quietly so that is a good start. I still don't think we have the technique to live with the Spanish, Brazilians or the Dutch, but we shall see. So back to base camp for Les Bleus and no doubt a post mortem of the Uruguay result conducted over a nice Chablis and some animated hand-gesturing without any physical confrontation. Roll on the next game.

Around Sky