Frogs Croak

Sacre Bleu! Raymond Domenech's French side crashed out of the Euro yesterday with a 2-0 loss to group rivals Italy. All coach Ray Ray had to say after the match was that he was looking forward to marrying his longtime girlfriend. Numerous critics in the French press have called for his immediate resignation, but the official statement on his future will be revealed on July 3, according to the Federation de Football Francais. To the France-Italy match review for a bit, more on the future of the French side to come thereafter...

The first thirty minutes of the match could not have unfolded worse for the French. Luca Toni was sent behind Les Bleus' defense via a hopeful longball, and Eric Abidal's clumsy challenge on the Bayern striker earned him a straight red card and Andrea Pirlo a penalty kick on 25 minutes. The Italy midfielder converted to put Italy up 1-0 against a man-down France. To compound Gallic anxieties, gem winger Franck Ribery had been stretchered off with what was later diagnosed as an ankle sprain and a damaged knee ligament. The French had some opportunities to level, but a truly promising chance to equalize was rare. Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi put the result beyond doubt with a lame goal in the 62nd minute, his freekick driven low off of wall component Thierry Henry past Coupet into the French net.


To be fair, the French always had to climb a steep uphill yesterday against Italy; no side in the competition would have an easy time overturning an early goal deficit and a red card in addition to the loss of its most creative offensive player while playing a man down. And yes, the French might be considered to have been very unlucky to have suffered the Thierry Henry deflection on Italy's second goal. All that considered, however, blame for this miserable performance lies squarely on the players and their coach. Domenech's weak selections provided the French team with little if any depth (not only in this match, but also the two matches prior to this), and once Franck Ribery went off, no one could really help a fantastic Karim Benzema penetrate the Italian defense. Samir Nasri was strangely brought on for Ribery and soon after subbed out again for Jean Alain Boumsong's grand entry (would much rather have Philippe Mexes come in to shore up the back...), and Nicolas Anelka replaced Sidney Govou later on in the 66th to contribute jack.

One should consider the inspired performance of 20-year-old Benzema and a gritty showing from his Lyon teammate Jeremy Toulalan as consolation. Benzema effectively took over for Ribery in the attack as the sole player willing to take on the Italians, often weaving impressive solo runs past two or three defenders. Toulalan, not usually a standout player for the French, played some decent throughballs into Henry and recovered many balls in the midfield alongside an obviously aging Claude Makelele in a tough duel with Italian counterparts Gattuso and Pirlo.

There is much speculation floating about in the football world about France's future post-Euro 2008. Domenech's position will obviously be reevaluated and older players will have to be replaced, as 36-year-old Lilian Thuram and Makelele have just announced their retirements from the international stage. Those most centrally involved in France's 98, 2000, and 06 successes have passed on, and it is time for Benzema, Nasri, and the rest of the French youth to leave Ligue 1 for better clubs and become the new backbone of the squad.