Here, you can discuss everything related with the French NT. Who will start now that Benzema's exile is over? Will Zidane take charge once we go inevitably on strike because we started playing 3 at the back? Has Deschamps given his dentist's details to Ribéry or not yet? It starts tonight as we host Wales! OMG this is intense!
Benzema, Griezmann and Mbappe is a scary proposition. We've gone with a decent side, but it's been put out there largely based on who needs minutes and who hasn't played too much for their clubs and there's a few in there who this is a big step up for. I'd settle for a relatively competitive game for sure.
What a joke that is, he's literally standing on Benzema and there isn't even a yard between the two of them. He's no way meant that, it's just been blasted at him. It just screams of a refereeing decision from someone who doesn't understand the sport, and hasn't been in that position himself. It was hard enough as it was against the world champions, we've performed really well up until this point but it's a near impossible task now and going to be so hard to be competitive against an extra man.
It seems so. Utterly pointless. He must have looked at it 25 times on the screen before reaching this decision.
In the end, we put in a good shift, but the red card stopped us from getting a decent result. Performance was good against eleven, and we worked our socks off for the rest of the game but it's an impossible task against the best in the world. I do feel optimistic that we can put in a good showing at these Euro's, and I'm confident in all of our strongest eleven. Just got to hope Davies, Allen, Ramsey and Ampadu are all at full match fitness come Switzerland. I do really like the look of Rubin Colwill as well, he's got a really good frame on him and hopefully he can be moulded in to a strong, box-to-box partner for Ethan Ampadu. I'd have to say that France look the strongest international side I've seen recently, stronger than Belgium and England. Benzema adds a lot to this side, not just from a goals point of view, but he's difficult to defend against and plays off of Griezmann and Mbappe so well. I'd back France to go all the way after tonight.
Really not sold on starting to play a diamond 442 but hey ho, the ref made a stupid decision (wasn't even a penalty to me but I'm very pro-defence). Just senseless to send off a player regardless of it being a friendly. I would have complained had it been in a competitive game. Nice stuff in the second but it was against 10 men. Bring on Bulgaria.
Thought it was a disciplined performance playing against the world Champions for an hour with 10 men. Did well to prevent the floodgates opening and minutes under the belt for a few players coming back. We can hopefully cause a few problems for teams in The Euros. Encouraging first 30 minutes. France may of course have another gear when it comes to the tournament.
I really think France will win. The depth of quality is insane even if there could be the usual problems with unity in the squad.
Yeah, best squad in the tournament, I think. Plenty of players who know how to win a big trophy. They are my pick as well. As long as no stopwatches get thrown, they will be tough to stop.
The team to beat no doubt. Man for man the best team in the world, and a good mix of youth and experience
Beat Bulgaria 3-0. Started with the still unconvincing diamond 442. Bulgaria goalie was very good but we needed a very good Griezmann scissor kick (albeit deflected) to break the deadlock. Benzema and Mbappé had some nice moves (the nicest we've seen for a while but no goals which is not very Deschamps. Didn't watch the second half coz I was bored. Oh well, bring it Deutschland. They seem to be playing 343 which could be a problem for us. Don't see a real defence-shielder in their squad so the back 3 will have to be on their toes but this game does have a 2016 feel: don't fancy anyone to actually beat Neuer except Griezmann. Expect Werner to miss 3 open goals too. Watch Germany beat us 3-0 with a Werner hat-trick.
Nice disclaimer at the end. You do seem a bit nervous about facing us, but I understand, as the Germans indeed have world-class players, even if recent results suggest otherwise. Perhaps I'm less nervous, because I see our nation generally accepts we're so inferior that we have nothing to lose. I saw the game against Bulgaria. It looked like France were pleased to just control the game after going 1:0 ahead. Obviously, several chances were created, but they didn't show much good shooting upfront until Giroud came on to demonstrate his poaching skills. They didn't really have to either, as Bulgaria had no chance. It was a spectacular opener by Griezmann though. Nice to see Pavard getting an assist for Giroud and I was happily surprised to see Tolisso playing longer too. Hernandez obviously didn't have much defensive work to do against that Bulgaria. It might well be a 343. Emre Can would be that defence-shielder, but he just seems to be a substitute rather than a starter, simply because we have bigger names in midfield. The last thing I want to see is our offside trap failing, with Hummels, of all people, trying to catch M'Bappé. I'm happy Mats is back, but we need a real sprinter next to him.
He should be fit. Not sure that's a good thing mind... Exactly! Germany have nothing to lose, we have everything to lose. Not sure if we'll line up with the diamond or the more conservative 4231 which worked wonders for years. I reckon Can should be nowhere near the starting 11 but he seems to be the only profile to sit in front of the back 3 and try to annoy Griezmann all game. Gündogan, Kroos, Kimmich... It's just not what they're good at (still baffled that Guardiola started Gündogan as a DM in the CL final). I can see Löw starting Werner which works in our favour. What do you reckon your starting eleven will be? To me, the side that started against Latvia is the closest you have of a starting 11 (Goretzka is missing though) but not against us. Can't wait for Tuesday obviously.
Here's how I think Löw will lineup against France: I think he might shift Kimmich on the right wing back, to avoid dropping either of Kroos and Gündogan from the center. Klostermann would only be an alternative on right-back if Kimmich starts in central-midfield instead. In central defense, I think Rüdiger, Hummels, and Ginter will play, with Goosens starting as left wing-back. I think Gnabry and Müller will start as left and right forwards, with Havertz playing centre-forward. Here's how I would start against France, indeed with Can next to Kimmich in defensive midfield, und Gündogan as central Attacking midfielder, Gnabry on the left wing and Müller on the right. Havertz, I'd keep as centre-forward.
