France

France's Nightmare

Nicolas F24 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:34:35 +0200

France has been eliminated from the competition after a nightmarish game against Italy. After Franck Ribéry's injury, the expulsion of Eric Abidal and a penalty awarded to Italy, Les Bleus have left the tournament in the worst possible way.

A 90-minute round of observation

Emmanuel F24 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:54:00 +0200

Here we go… France could do no better than a draw. They were unable to beat what looked like an average team, Romania. So, let’s try to be kind and optimistic. France did not lose. Great. Against nine defenders, one goalkeeper and Mutu, they held firm. Great. France has not lost. Phew… Apart from that? Nothing special.

This match confirms what we have seen in their warm-up games: France lacked power, creativity and speed to overwhelm a disappointing Romanian selection. There was neither initiative nor reactivity. Well, no spark. We can’t replace the irreplaceable, but we can change Malouda.

So let’s think positive. France reached the 2006 World Cup final after drawing against Switzerland and then against South Korea. But South Korea isn’t Holland. In fact we just learnt one thing. Lilian Thuram is now the French player with the greatest number of caps in European Championships: a total of 15.

Not bad, but that’s not enough to reach the quarter-final.

Goals, goals, goals!

Nandita F24 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:50:02 +0200

I am from Liverpool in England which we like to think of as the world capital of the game.Ok I know other places have a claim - Rio, Barcelona, Milan, to name but a hat-trick of famous footballing cities. But Liverpool has the best club in the world.

They play in BLUE - they are called EVERTON FC. Oh yeah there's also a team that plays in red and has won the Champions League five times.

Now I live in Paris I watch Paris St Germain play as often as I can.The French play soccer differently. The French have qualified for Euro 2008, none of the countries I could claim as my own (England, Wales or Ireland)managed to make the cut. I therefore would not dare to criticise their style of play!

What I am looking forward to seeing in the tournament is the different styles of play, attitudes, and goals, goals, goals! By the way did I say I'm looking forward to seeing some goals?

Who will be the big star? Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. That's an easy call. But keep your eyes peeled for France's Karim Benzema. The lad's got everything: pace, control, a shot like a cannon and if there could be a player who could step into the boots of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, it could well by the young man from Olympique Lyonnais.

Austria and Switzerland - dual venues for a tournament to showcase some of the best footballing talent in the world. I'll try to bring you all the excitement of this event that at its best will take us all beyond the game of football and into an experience that will last a lifetime, and make many more football crazy kids like I was!

At it's best football is a game that makes people dream of better things. Pelé
the great Brazilian called it the "beautiful game". Here's hoping it stays that way, the hooigans take a holiday, and we're all left with memories to inspire us all the put on our boots, cross the white line, compete and most of all enjoy it! Here's to a fantastic Euro 2008 - and I'm really just a soccer mad lad who can't believe I'm lucky enough to report on it! Have fun x0

The captains' curse

Emmanuel F24 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:29:07 +0200

The forgotten heroes

Nandita F24 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:27:40 +0200

They’re football legends but they’ll be watching the Euro 2008 on TV in their living room.

In France, striker David Trezeguet’s case is most emblematic; rated as this season’s second best scorer in Italy, he’s one of Juve’s ten best strikers. Despite these impressive stats, “Trezegoal” does not exist in Domenech’s era. Explanation? The one given by the French manager, who claims to have too many forwards at his disposal, will only irritate the fans of the player who scored the golden goal for les Bleus in 2000.

But David Trezeguet will not be the only major player missing from this Euro championship. In Spain, Raùl, Real Madrid’s long-standing captain and the national team’s best scorer with 44 goals to his credit, isn’t part of Luis Aragonés’ roster of players this time out.

In Germany, Mannschaft’s number two goalkeeper was left aside. Timo Hildebrand, Valencia’s goalkeeper suffered a rough season. Is that the reason which forced Joachim Low to leave him out?

Czech manager Karel Bruckner did not want to bring back Pavel Nedvêd into international play despite injured captain Tomas Rosicky’s absence. At 35, le ballon d’Or 2003 seems to be fully charged as he recently extended his contract with Juve for another year.

The Italians were enraged after Pipo Inzaghi was kept off the team. 2006 World Cup Champion, Milan AC’s sly forward, whose goals helped the club qualify for the UEFA cup, does not figure on Donadoni’s final list. Squadra Azzura’s manager preferred to pick Marco Boriello, a 25-year-old Genovese.
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Apart from their outstanding talent, all these players except Hildebrand have one thing in common – they’re in their thirties. Will the Euro 2008 be for the youth, represented by Cristiano Ronaldo – considered to be THE player of the championship by FRANCE 24 observers?