The performance of the French team drew many different emotions from football fans around the world. Mexico fans surely enjoyed the sight of their team overhauling a major European football nation. French fans must have felt huge frustration watching their side put in such a lethargic performance. While Irish fans that still bear grudges from the manner of France’s progression to the World Cup at their expense took some comfort dabbling in a bit of schadenfreude.

Putting aside the feelings of those who have an emotional attachment to France and those who wish bad upon them, it is hard not to feel disappointed in the manner which they conducted themselves throughout their second group game. Although it is wrong to accuse players of lacking effort and not performing, the French players did little to convince viewers that they were trying their hardest to ensure victory for Les Bleus.

The two goals conceded by the French typified their performance as a whole. Lack of drive to close down the opposition in the midfield allowed Rafael Marquez to thread through his pass for Javier Hernandez to round hapless Hugo Lloris in the French goal. While the disinterest shown by French captain Patrice Evra to track back and alleviate his error in allowing Hernandez brush by him in the lead up to the Mexican penalty invokes questions whether this French side have any intentions of even trying to progress from their group.

Until now, most of the blame for any shortcomings surrounding the French team has been laid solely on the head of manager Raymond Domenech. However, this latest performance begs the question if the players should also shoulder the blame and not play badly in spite of the manager, but for their pride in their nation or more generally for the French public?

Neither party deserves the total blame for the deficiency of the French national team over the past four years. Domenech’s poor tactics and personnel choices over the course of his tenure have been at fault for many bad performances and attribute partly to the weak displays in South Africa so far. This however, serves up no excuse for those players who pull on the blue jersey of France to play without conviction, intent and willingness to win a game of football.

Some may call this a harsh criticism of France and an unfair swipe at the team. Agreed it is a harsh critique, but not undeserved. This French squad has an abundance of individual talent and skillful athletes that are capable of defeating any side in the World Cup on their day. If they had tried to win the game and competed for every percentage of possession on offer, no one could question their ethic.

The French performance against Mexico tonight can have fatal drawbacks for the future of football in France. Any passionate French man, woman and child would hate to see a team they are associated give up in such a fashion. Football has never been known to boast fond fans throughout France and the average French persons attitude to their national team could hardly be called affectionate. So before their final group game against South Africa next Tuesday, maybe the French squad should reflect on those they are letting down. Their country, their manager, their fans, but most importantly themselves. Not many people get the chance to play at the World Cup. These players should grab this opportunity with both hands and not be so wasteful.

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Diarra battles Messi

Someone who walks with an uneven spine is sure to have an awkward gait.

Without recently ruled-out central midfielder Lassana Diarra, France will similarly be unable to engage their core correctly. It is the final damning factor proving their march through the 2010 World Cup will likely be an uncomfortable one.

Any side’s most important player

At times, Diarra is the best player on his club team. This is no small feat considering he plays at Real Madrid with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain —the second and third best attackers in the world during the 2009/2010 season.

Lass’ approach to midfield generalship relies on balance. Not necessarily his own physical balance but the averaging of both his offensive and defensive acumen, and his equal timing and measurement of each one's application.

“Defensive midfielder” describes his position but does not define his effect on matches.

He goes forward and backwards, rarely over-committing in either direction.  His blunt and oblong forehead leads his taut, but small frame, eagerly into tackles. But it’s his important distribution, his ability to use either foot to dribble or pass, and penchant for a nice-looking through-ball that really makes his mold unique.

The guy makes Michael Carrick look like Nancy Reagan.

There are very few players even like him among Europe’s elite: Roma’s Daniele De Rossi, Man United’s Darren Fletcher, Barcelona's Keita, or even Liverpool’s Stephen Gerrard.

Like Diarra, their presence almost solely enables their respective clubs' attack to flourish.

Yet in Europe, year after year star forwards garner more glory and transfer fees, while the true foundation of each side remains largely unheralded.

His private sickness

And so the Real Madrid midfielder was the perfect foil for France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff in South Africa, but now he’s out of the tournament with an interesting stomach ailment.

Apparently, the sickness is severe enough to know that a stomach ache won’t heal in 17 days. The French federation was alarmingly coy in their reaction Sunday.

“Further to his intestinal pain contracted on the glacier in Tignes, check-ups have detected evidence of an unpredictable illness which justifies rest for an indeterminate period. Consequently Lassana Diarra will miss the World Cup 2010 in South Africa,” a statement from the FFF read.

After Diarra, of the just six midfielders left, only Alou Diaby has the combination of grit and skill to weigh down his team’s core. However, his lower center of gravity and slightly over-buccaneering approach to attacking make the replacement hardly like-for-like.

Although Diaby's style isn't wholly dissimilar to Diarra's, and he gamely fulfills his crucial role for Arsenal, the general disparity in class between the two Frenchmen is a marked one.

It's very improbable that Diaby will slot in and do better than Diarra would have on the basis that the latter is better at everything.

Domenech proposes poorly

But hell, Diaby might not even play, nor might not anyone else with maniacal manager Domenech at the helm.

If a cold and confident Jose Mourinho didn't recently remind everyone to the value of a coach in form, let the dithering, hopelessly romantic French manager remind you to the effect of the opposite.

He's been so appallingly nervous and dim-witted over his three-year tenure, the FFF, on May 16, hired former Bordeaux coach, venerable Man United one-year legend, and famed former France defender Laurent Blanc to replace him after the World Cup. Not exactly a show of confidence.

And that was before the maligned coach Domenech unforgivably omitted Samir Nasri from the final 23-man squad.

After also snubbing the inconsistent but prodigal Benzema from the team, bust-ups with almost every player, and generally mediocre results throughout prior tournaments and qualifying groups,  the conclusion throughout France appears to be that Domenech never quite grasped the plot throughout his surprisingly long six-year tenure.

Now, Same old Post-Zidane France

Should be more letdown for France this year. If the FFF really had balls, they'd have just replaced Domenech with the younger, fresher, and more cerebral Blanc outright before the tournament.

If they had even bigger balls, they'd have just signed him to play for 'em. They could use Blanc's saggys, because sadly the French defense is too small, and none are real center-backs. Gallas is likely to start. Full stop.

The wing-backs are awesome, and the wings as well, but without Diarra to act strongly both in front of and behind them, playing off Sagna and Evra, releasing players like Gourcuff, Malouda, and Ribery to feed into Henry or Anelka, the French side have no base. Besides, their goalkeepers are usually a bit squirrely too.

In the classy but only semi-fit Ribery, a steadying Anelka, an impressive Malouda, and even an off-form Gourcuff, France have plenty of options going forward.

Despite that, with such a poor tactician at the helm as Domenech, without their underrated handyman Diarra plugging holes centrally, France will fall awkwardly against so many other more balanced sides striding past them throughout the tournament.

[Read Domenech's failings archived at Wikipedia. Apparently the only thing he got right in six years is to exclude Mexes from every squad.]

[Watch highlights of Diarra do it all for club and country at YouTube.]

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The European World Cup play-offs were drawn today (October 19) and the Republic of Ireland have drawn 1998 winners France.  The Irish will have to beat the French if they are to make it to South Africa and the game should be a cracking occassion.

Of course the French are the favourites with the World Cup 2010 betting odds.  They have a wealth of talent including Barcelona ace Thierry Henry, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and Bayern Muncih's highly coveted midfield star Franck Ribery.  However, the Irish should not be dismissed as an easy draw for the French and I imagine Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech would have preffered one of the other lower ranked teams they could have drawn.  With the Irish racing into this fixture unbeaten in qualifying, including two draws against current world champions Italy, they are no pushovers and will be determined to spoil the French party.

It was a controversial decision by Fifa to seed the teams who made the play-offs in Europe.  I'm sure everyone is well aware of why they did this, the governing body didn't want the likes of France and Portugal to meet in qualifying which would have meant players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry would miss out next summer.  They've given the 'bigger' nations every chance to make it to South Africa with this seeding system but I'm confident that under Giovanni Trapattoni the Irish can upset the French - but it will be a massive effort.

Ireland's stars such as keeper Shay Given, defenders Richard Dunne and John O'Shea, midfielders Stephen Hunt and Kevin Kilbane and strikers Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle will have to be on the top of their game if they are to beat the French.  They also face the task of the second leg in France, which doesn't make matters any easier, but in 'Il Trap' they have a master tactician in charge who has the ability to oversee an upset.

Obviously the French are the favourites and will probably emerge from the two-legged tie victorious but let us not dismiss the Irish threat.  Of all the play-offs this is the pick of the ties and a game I will be keeping a very close eye on when it comes around in November.

The four two-legged ties to be played on November 14 and 18 are:

Republic of Ireland v France

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Greece v Ukraine

Russia v Slovenia

Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Russia will all play at home first, the winner of each tie will qualify for the World Cup.

The European nations who have already qualified are:

Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy and the Netherlands.

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Ladies & Gentlemen, do we have a World Football Team Of The Week for you all. I guarantee that this team deserved the honor & stunned a nation. Remember that the  World Cup Buzz Team Of The Week made headlines and/or played matches during the calendar week of May 4 - May 10. The winner is:

EN AVANT DE GUINGAMP (FRA)

On Saturday, the Ligue 2 side pulled off a historic result by defeating Ligue 1 Rennes in the 2009 Coupe de France final. Brazilian striker Eduardo scored twice in the 2nd half to win Guingamp's 1st ever trophy by a score of 2-1. The significance of the result is that Guingamp became only the 2nd non-Ligue 1 team to win the Coupe de France. The last non-Ligue 1 team to win the Coupe de France was Le Havre 50 years ago. Guingamp had to battle from the 7th round of the tournament (a stage with 162 teams from every division of France) to win it. Improbable odds for a Ligue 2 team but Guingamp came through. For their historic run to the Coupe De France title and a place in next year's Europa League, En Avant de Guingamp is the World Cup Buzz Team Of The Week.

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French coach Raymond Domenech named his squad for the February 11th friendly versus Argentina in Marseille. The big news is the surprise call up of Toulouse keeper, Cédric Carrasso. He has been a part of Toulouse's surprise 6th place standing and is the key component of a defense that is the 2nd stingiest in France's Ligue 1. Carrasso will be the 3rd keeper.

Les Bleus have been hit hard with injuries as Manchester United's Patrice Evra, Inter's Patrick Vieira, Lyon's Sidney Govou, and Arsenal's Mickael Silvestre are all out for the match. Also missing from the squad are the top 2 scorers in Ligue 1. Toulouse's André-Pierre Gignac & PSG's Guillaume Hoarau. Both of them have 13 goals on the season and were overlooked in favor of Rennes' Jimmy Briand & Milan loaner Yoann Gourcuff of Bordeaux. Here is the complete squad:

Goalkeepers: Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Cédric Carrasso (Toulouse)

Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona/ESP), Gaël Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Julien Escudé (FC Sévilla/ESP), Rod Fanni (Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Philippe Mexès (AS Roma/ITA), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Sébastien Squillaci (FC Sévilla/ESP).

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona/ESP), Samir Nasri (Arsenal/ENG), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich/GER).

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The Top 5 Things Learned From The Previous Round of WC Qualifying:

Ghana on the brink

The Black Stars could be out of qualifying. In Group 5 of Round 2 WC African Qualifying, Ghana sits in 3^rd place behind 1^st place Libya and 2^nd place Gabon only trailing Gabon on goal differential. Their talisman Michael Essien is out for that last crucial match vs. Lesotho and they will have to produce at least a 3 goal victory margin in that game to have a shot of advancing to the next stage. Let’s hope they go through cause they are arguably the most talented team in Africa and fun to watch.

Domenech as to go

Why does this man still have employment? What has he done to earn his continued place as national team coach of France? Let’s see. France looked horrible in Euro 2008, they have been erratic at best in matches following the Zidane embarrassment of the ’06 WC Final. He’s consistently left off the team arguably the best French striker right now in David Trezeguet deciding on Nicolas Anelka instead and they just got whipped 3-1 by AUSTRIA. With all the talent France has they should not be losing to AUSTRIA Les Bleus need to bring back Aime Jacquet.

Paraguay is the best team in South America, right now

La Albirroja has been the most consistent team in FIFA’s toughest qualifying region. Paraguay has 5 players that have scored at least 2 goals meaning that there isn’t one person to key on. That makes them more dangerous offensively than supposedly more dangerous offensive sides like Brazil and Argentina. By the way, results vs. South America’s 2 Giants: 1-1 draw vs. Argentina in Buenos Aires and a 2-0 win vs. Brazil in Asuncion. Impressive, if Paraguay’s key players can avoid injury over the next months, Paraguay will not only make it to The Great Tournament but will be a serious contender for the title.

No Caribbean Riddims in South Africa

This one hurts the most because of my roots in the Caribbean and my desire to see a Caribbean nation progress deep into the World Cup. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for the Caribbean nations in CONCACAF. The Caribbean Champions, Haiti have 1 point after 3 matches and a –7 goal differential and tragically a lot more on their minds than football. Jamaica just fired its coach after only 1 point and a –6 goal differential. Cuba has 0 points. Trinidad & Tobago are the last hope. The Soca Warriors have 4 points and are tied with Guatemala for 2^nd in Group 1. I think us Caribbean folk will have to wait till Brazil 2014. At least we got Usain Bolt.

Sepp Blatter is the SHIZZLE!!!!

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter announced that all workers would get two free tickets to a WC match at the stadium they are working on.  That is FREAKING SWEEET!!! (To quote Peter Griffin).  If I didn't have a job, I would find my way to South Africa and get me a job at Ellis Park or any of those stadiums.  I can install the toilets for all I care.  I will deal with sewage pipes for some free WC tickets.

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