Preview: Unsteady France a tempting prey for Mexico
POLOKWANE: After ruining South Africa”s opening party plans, Mexico take on an unsteady France side on Thursday eager to highlight their growing reputation as World Cup gatecrashers.
France”s household names hold no fears for a side who upset champions Italy 2-1 in a warm-up game before holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw in their first Group A match.
“At the end of the day, we”re not playing against their stars, we”re playing 11 against 11,” Mexico midfielder Gerardo Torrado told reporters before facing the likes of Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry. “We have to be warriors.”
The intriguing fixture in northern Polokwane looks a lot tighter than the sides” contrasting pedigrees suggest and France, who looked harmless in their 0-0 draw with Uruguay, can expect a fierce challenge from coach Javier Aguirre”s men.
“They”re an excellent side who can give any team a hard time,” France coach Raymond Domenech said of Mexico. “I watched them against Italy and I was impressed. You must make sure they don”t get too much possession, otherwise you”re in trouble.”
Another key to the match will be whether France”s high-profile forwards, who have not scored an international goal since last November, will hit the back of the net at last.
“We can”t put our trust in the fact that it has been a long time since they scored,” said Mexico”s defensive stalwart Rafael Marquez, who plays for Barcelona but knows French soccer well having had a three-year spell in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
“They”re maybe not in the kind of form that we”re used to seeing them in but that can change in an instant,” he added.
FEW CHANGES
Such are the 1998 champions” worries up front that Domenech might decide to bring back Henry, their most prolific scorer with 51 goals from 122 appearances, in place of Nicolas Anelka at centre forward.
Domenech, who boldly introduced an attacking 4-3-3 system during his side”s preparations, is expected to revert to his preferred, more cautious 4-2-3-1 system against Mexico with Jeremy Toulalan and Abou Diaby in front of the defence.
Aguirre could also make a few changes and may opt for Guillermo Ochoa in goal after Oscar Perez”s shaky showing against South Africa.
The experienced Cuauhtemoc Blanco, now 37, and young Javier Hernandez, 22, could also start in attack, at the expense of Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco respectively.
Surviving a group from which any side could advance would be satisfying for Mexico, who dream of equalling their best World Cup performances, quarter-final appearances in both 1970 and 1986 on home soil.
France, whose first duty is to avoid another early exit following their Euro 2008 flop, are more ambitious and targeting a repeat of their run to the last World Cup final.
“We must show more accuracy in front of goal but physically, we”re better prepared than in 2006 and I honestly believe we are capable of doing just as well this time, if not better,” said midfielder Florent Malouda, who should start on Thursday.
uruguay vs france world cup
June 11, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Watch France vs Uruguay Live Stream Online and Results. What’s happening to France? After they bench Henry and Malouda because of injuries they are now half a team but well there’s still have lots of other top players inside Les Bleus. France vs Uruguay in 2010 World Cup is set today that started at 2:00 pm ET. Currently we are on the 30th minute mark in the first half and the score is both zero.
Uruguay vs France 2010 World Cup Live Stream coverage can be found on ESPN3.COM and ESPN360 but it is also airing in other countries TV network like CBC in Canada with HD and 3D format which is a great deal.
This brand of soccer is one reason open-minded Americans are consistently stymied when they try to get into the World Cup. Why would you want to watch 90 minutes of game that one of the teams is not even trying to win?
France did its best to change the course of events, putting in striker Thierry Henry and attacking midfielder Florent Malouda with about 20 minutes left in the match.
But the effort to bring some spark to the French team could not produce a goal. They created more chances, but were unable to crack Uruguay’s stifling defense.
“Uruguay may be negative, but defensively brilliant,” said Mr. Darke at the end of the game, his voice full of resignation.
Chelsea beats Villa to reach FA Cup final
LONDON: Defending champion Chelsea returned to England”s FA Cup final Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Didier Drogba scored on a ball from John Terry in the 68th minute and Florent Malouda side-footed home a right-wing cross from Michael Ballack in the 89th minute at Wembley Stadium. Frank Lampard knocked in the third goal in injury time.
In the May 15 final at Wembley, Chelsea will face the winner of Sunday”s semifinal between Tottenham and Portsmouth.
Chelsea also leads the English Premier League.
Pakistan Cricket Team Leaves for Dubai
Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Team – led by captain Younis Khan – has left Dubai.
According to sources, National Cricket Team left Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore on Thursday night.
The National Team will play three one-days and two and twenty-20 matches against New Zealand.
On this occasion, a large number of cricket fans saw-off of national heroes.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at Lahore airport, coach intekhab Aalam said the national team is united.
Pakistan Cricket Team Leaves for Dubai was first posted on October 30, 2009 at 7:44 am.
Arsenal Crashes Liverpool 2-1
Arsenal Vs Liverpool 2-1, LONDON: A young team Thursday night Arsenal won seven times League Cup Champions Liverpool 2-1 in an absorbing Carling Cup tie fourth round at the Emirates Stadium.
Fran Merida thundered in a shot from 18 yards to put Arsenal ahead early in the first half of Emiliano Insua Liverpool drew 6 minutes later with an excellent dipping 25-yard strike.
Nickolas Bendtner shot in the roof of the net in the second half to secure Arsenals place in the quarter-finals.
At Stamford Bridge, Saloman Kalou gave the home side the lead, Florent Malouda scored the second a low drive sealed the victory Deco and a header from substitute Didier Drogba rounded off in style.
The 4-0 score line serves as testimony to a great performance, coherent than it was in much of Chelsea’s second string team.
In another tie of the night, crossed the Manchester City to a 5-1 victory over Championship side Scunthorpe. A midweek Serie A Juventus tie scored two victories on the bounce with a 5-1 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico blows.
Amauri, Giorgio Chiellini, Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet goals substitute at Juventus produced his best performance of the season to leave behind Sampdoria, for which Giampaolo Pazzini grabbed a consolation second.
And in tennis, Serena Williams finished the year as world number one after Dinara Safina withdrew due to a back injury since the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.
The Wimbledon champion Williams later won his second match of the tournament, defeating her older sister Venus 5-7 6-4 7-6.
Serena had to win only one more game than Safina of Russia to reach the leaderboard.
Arsenal Crashes Liverpool 2-1 was first posted on October 30, 2009 at 8:30 am.
