France succeeded in serving up one of the dullest matches in world cup history against Uruguay on Friday. They played with a similar lack of heart and passion tonight, luckily Mexico’s desire to play Football won out.
It was a pleasure to see a side in green finally get the right result against the French. Mexico thoroughly deserved their victory this evening. The result hasn’t sent Les Bleus home – which is a shame because this tournament will be better off without them – but it has left them with a mountain to climb in order to qualify.
Let’s not pretend, the French are lucky to be at these finals. Their qualification campaign was abysmal, and even having the play off draw seeded in their favour at the last minute still wasn’t enough, they needed one more helping hand before finally booking their spot in South Africa.
World cup winner Emmanuel Petit says that the French players fear the shirt, which doesn’t do much for the stereotype of the French being cowards. But it’s playing with a fear of losing rather than a desire to win that seems to be the problem. With the players at their disposal it’s hard to explain why they play in such a restrictive style.
Raymond Domenech’s tenure as coach is over regardless of what happens at these finals. He spent the majority of tonight’s game trying to look cool and relaxed on the touchline, he was motionless and emotionless it looked like he couldn’t care less.
Domenech will come in for a lot of stick, mainly for his selection and tactics, and quite rightly so. You cannot however blame him for the lack of passion shown by the players, they are as culpable as the coach on that front. It was clear that none of them wanted to be there. Skipper Patrice Evra looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. Anelka was as ever the incredible Sulk, Malouda and Ribery just could not get into the game, and for large parts this did not seem to bother them. It was disjointed, it was a disappointment, but most importantly of all it was insulting to the fans, you should never struggle to muster pride when you are representing your Country!
Two games in for the French and you get the impression it’s not only the Irish wishing Henry had kept his hands to himself back in November.
Most of the blame should be shouldered by the French Football Federation for keeping Domenech till WC 2010 and for Domenech himself for his disastrous team selections and tactics.
Domenech must be one of the worst coaches at WC 2010. There’s no justification for starting Govou in both games and for picking Anelka who has not scored for France since November 2009.
He also overlooked Vieira, Nasri and Benzema. The players should carry some of the blame but how can one expect a united front when the team is divided between players who do not like playing with each other and for each other?