Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



France wants to avoid fall
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 06 - 2008

France launches a new era in tentative fashion when it kicks off its Euro 2008 campaign against Romania on Monday.
The 2006 World Cup runner-up, facing a daunting task in a tough Group C also featuring the Netherlands and world champion Italy, is unsure what to expect from its first major Finals in more than a decade without Zinedine Zidane as playmaker.
With the balding maestro now retired France needs to find a new talisman and the right balance between ageing stalwarts and exciting youngsters.
There is room for hope with winger Franck Ribery ready to take over Zidane's role and 20-year-old striker Karim Benzema determined to prove himself on the big stage. But concerns persist after a struggle to qualify, timid performances in warmup games and the thigh injury sustained by captain Patrick Vieira that will sideline him in Zurich on Monday.
“That match will throw us into the tournament or into the lake,” France coach Raymond Domenech told reporters.
The pressure will be on Domenech's side as Romania, which failed to qualify for the last three major competitions, has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
“We are not here for a holiday,” said Romania right back Cosmin Contra. “We are aiming to reach the quarterfinals and play good football in what is an illustrious group.
“A positive result against France is key and could spur us on to great things.”
Romania, which won its qualifying group ahead of the Netherlands, has a solid defense well protected by defensive midfielder and captain Cristian Chivu. Coach Victor Piturca will attempt to catch the French on the counter-attack with proven finisher Adrian Mutu, who has scored 17 goals in his last 20 qualifying matches.
France is likely to take a cautious approach. “Our strength has to come from the back,” said midfielder Claude Makelele, who is likely to be paired with Jeremy Toulalan in front of the defence in Vieira's absence. “First of all we must concentrate on not conceding a goal. The important thing is not to lose that quality we have at the back, knowing up front we have players capable of scoring at any time.”
Domenech, tired of his reputation as a coach who has never won anything, is expected to opt for a compact 4-4-2 formation with Thierry Henry and Benzema up front.
Anchoring the defense will be 36-year-old Lilian Thuram, one of the few survivors of the generation who put France on the map by lifting the 1998 World Cup on home soil. “We have our doubts but when we are in that situation it usually makes us play better,” said Thuram. – Reuters __


Clic here to read the story from its source.