Group E (Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras, France)

Pepe LeFrits

(Times are UK)

June 15 Brasilia, 1700: Switzerland v Ecuador
June 15 Porto Alegre, 2000: France v Honduras
June 20 Salvador, 2000: Switzerland v France
June 20 Curitiba, 2300: Honduras v Ecuador
June 25 Manaus, 2100: Honduras v Switzerland
June 25 Rio de Janeiro, 2100: Ecuador v France

spacemanspiff

In case anyone isn't aware yet, the France lineup has been announced. Giroud, Koscielny and Sagna are all off to Brazil (I would expect Koscielny to start, but maybe Sagna/Giroud to be benched). Clichy and Nasri miss out (the latter because he's too much of a twat).

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/13/france-world-cup-squad-samir-nasri-gael-clichy-didier-deschamps

banduan

Enough Arsenal players there to make it worth watching France I guess.

Klaus

I noticed that Clément Grenier made the French squad, by the way. We were linked heavily to him last summer, to much ridicule. He can't have been that bad.

Alfonso

I don't know why but I keep having images of Olivier Giroud having a smashing World Cup.

goon

He's not a starter for them anymore is he? Benzema squirmed his way back in to the starting line-up in the second leg of the play-offs.

Bold Tone

I think the French have a good squad but i'm not sure about Deschamps.
Why is he even responding to Nasri's girlfriend's tweet?

spacemanspiff

Benzema will start.

My team would be:

--------------Lloris-------------
Sagna - Mangala - Kos - Evra
--------Matuidi - Pogba --------
------------Valbuena----------
Remy-----Benzema------Ribery

With the likes of Griezmann, Giroud, Cabaye and Varane as the immediate backups likely to get minutes. I would have put Schneiderlin alongside that company but he's only on standby and unlikely to play.

It's a good team - it all depends if they can keep their egos in order, and how well Deschamps leads them. France misses a 10 in the class of Platini/Zidane though in Valbuena who in merely a 'good' player.

Clrnc

Remy wouldn't start imo.

Tactics

Yep and I expect a mdifield 3 of Matuidi-Pogba-Cabaye

I think this will be their team:

--------------Lloris
Debuchy--Varane--Kos/Sackho--Evra
------------Matuidi------
---------Cabaye---Pogba-------
Valbuena------Benzema--------Ribery

Griezmann could get the nod ahead of Valbuena depending on how he does in their upcoming matches.

Clrnc

That's spot on. Think we would see that, Griezmann is only truly effective on the left but can't see Ribery moving to the right to accomodate him yet.

I know Kos was dropped, but he will start imo now.

Rex

I'd think Varane and Mangala were first choice. Kos could get in ahead of Varane possibly because he has been used very sparingly lately, and he is still inexperienced.

spacemanspiff

We will play with 1 of Varane/Mangala imo. Even in France, the media have copped on to Koscielny and it will be very surprising if he doesn't start.

Rex

Kos and Mangala could be a fucking revelation.

Irishgunner

I reckon Sakho will keep his place due to his performance against the Ukraine.

lorddulaarsenal

Easy group for France

JazzG

Some French journalists reporting that Ribery has been ruled out of the World Cup. Haven't seen any official confirmation though someone else is now reporting that he has been named on the bench for their friendly match :/

Klaus

Bet on Drmic to score a few goals in this group. Switzerland will surprise people.

Irishgunner

Klaus wrote:
Bet on Drmic to score a few goals in this group. Switzerland will surprise people.

Shaqiri and Drmic will be a handful.

mentalvortex

France 23 man final squad for the world cup

Goalkeepers - Lloris (Tottenham), Landreau (Bastia), Ruffier (St Etienne)
Defenders - Varane (Real Madrid), Koscielny, Sagna (Arsenal), Evra (Manchester United), Sakho (Liverpool), Debuchy (Newcastle), Digne (PSG), Mangala (Porto)
Midfielders - Ribery (Bayern), Cabaye, Matuidi (PSG), Grenier (Lyon), Pogba (Juventus), Mavuba (Lille), Valbuena (Marseille), Sissoko (Newcastle), Griezmann (Real Sociedad)
Forwards - Benzema (Real Madrid), Giroud (Arsenal), Remy (QPR)