[Alter Ego]

Who could have thought that France could been out in the first phase?, what is the problem?. I believe four reasons in particular sum up the problem.

1. France can not do without Zidane. he is the point on the pitch from where all balls pass, he is the creative mind, the only one who can give this team some unpredictibality.

2. Some said that the team is stronger than four years ago. I do not thinks so. Deschamps and Blanc where two players, that in today's France there exists no equal substitute to them. Vieira may be a great player, but he does not have the leadership and fighting spirit of Deshamps. The defence is weaker, Thuram is not what he was 4 years ago and Desailly is not young anymore. It is true that their strength infront has increased but both Trezeguet and Henry seem out of form, they have spent too much in helping their squads win the domestic title.

3. France felt too self-assured. The team felt superior and this could have been seen by the way they approached their first game. They thought of themselves as being the strongest and had little respect for their opponents.

4. The last point is that Lady luck has left France for good.

after this year fiasco, it will pass anothe 100 years to see France winning another World Cup.

 

[Guest]

alter ego, i say that only to you, you are right i'm ok with all you said. but then, how do you explain we won matches and matches after euro and with big scores?

 

[Magic#10]

Friendlies, lili, meaningless friendlies... Not your fault that you didn't have to play qualification matches but when the first real important match came - you lost. And the second you draw. So unfortunately for you - you haven't seen your team for REAL in 2 years until the Senegal match and later Uruguay match...

Brasil managed in 1998 despite being WC but I actually think Brasil looks stronger this year and they had big fights to qualify...

 

[colocolo]

Folks..I wish I could post this in RED..so it would stand out..Im betting my marbles on a Draw in a few hours, but If Denmark beats FRANCE and just doesnt settle for the Tie....Remember colocolo's words....
Denmark will then be headed to the Finals !!

:cap:

 

[colocolo]

Not only do they now own the dubious record of the FIRST former CHAMP eliminated in the 1st round.............They go out FLAT not scoring a Single goal in their 3 games....
Man ...I wouldnt want to be associated with neither record

 

[Biancoceleste]

Not only do they now own the dubious record of the FIRST former CHAMP eliminated in the 1st round.

They were not the first to do that. Brazil went out in the first round in 1966.

 

[milano77]

They were not the first to do that. Brazil went out in the first round in 1966.

But not as France. France left the WC without scoring a single goal and without wining a single match.

 

[Lazia]

Brazil was not the first either... i think it happened to Italy, too, in 1950 or so...

 

[colocolo]

They were not the first to do that. Brazil went out in the first round in 1966.

Thxs for correcting me....Now Brazil and France own some "worthwhile" records !! :dielaugh:

 

[Magic#10]

And Denmark are now 11 out of 12 to lead a match in the WC!! Only France has been 1-0 in front (in 98).

I feel confident no matter who we meet now... It's a knock out from here on - anything can happen!

Always look on the bright side of life !!

Let's bring back the marvellous summer of 92!

 

[Hakan]

The match commentator stated that France were the 2nd Champions to go out in the first round.

 

[Lazia]

...then i think your match commentator should not talk WC history, because Italy were World Champions in 1934 and 1938, and in 1950 they were eliminated in the first round.

go check out worldcuparchive.com if you don't believe what i'm saying. i'm sure you'll be able to find the info there.

 

[Lazindo01]

It's ashamed for French players, French Football Assosiation, Soccer Fans, and for Soccer itself.

Now the world know how soccer is being played and how the champhion played it.

Over confidence, arrogancy, and coming with that title had made France forgot that soccer is world's sport. Honetly I won't expect Senegal to beat the French in the first game, but I was just an ordinary soccer fan, while those players should understood what kind of game they would have.

Even they (French) didn't see the video how Senegal qualified the WC02 ....

 

[Magic#10]

Even they (French) didn't see the video how Senegal qualified the WC02 ....

I bet Morten Olsen (Danish coach) didn't do that mistake... Before the WC started he said Senegal could/would take a medal. Most Danes also thought that we might beat Uruguay or maybe draw, then beat Senegal and finally loose against France - qualifying to next round cos France would have won all 3 matches...
As it ended - we only lost points against Senegal - who Olsen said would be the worst opponent and most Danes thought would be the easiest...before the WC started.

Morten Olsen is a very football-wise man, I think.

 

[Frederik]

Morten Olsen is a very football-wise man, I think.

True, just take a look at his tactic for today's clash with France!

I also thought we would win against Senegal, but also win against Uruguray, which would qualify us for the next together with France, who'd probably beat us in the last match. Well it all turned out quite well, but not as many predicted though .

 

[|Gunners|]

Some reasons why France fail to qualify:

1. They obviously have a better strikers than it was 2 years ago. But, the midfield is crap. Lack of creativity in midfield. Dfjorkaeff is not that good anymore. Pires is injured. Zidane still great, but still suffering from injury. He didnt even play last 2 matches. In WC98, France had the best midfield.

2. Strategy that is not really fit them. They should have played 2 strikers instead of 1 striker, and 2 striker played as wingers.
It was not a major factor anyway.

3. Bad luck. At least 6 times they hit the post. Henry was sent off last game, while yellow card was more appropriate.

 

[Ze da Fiel]

At least we scored goals and won a game in 66.....plus Pele was CHOPED on the pitch by the portuguese!

 

[Lazindo01]

Martin Olsen.. hmmm... he's not wise but smart, it seems he always saying good thing about other teams. yet to make other teams sleep in their overconfidence over the praises.....