2010 World Cup: France and Mexico preparation for the game
The torrent of misfortune and bad luck hasn’t ended for the French yet. The Arsenal defender William Gallas is giving strong evidences that he might be out of the match Group A match against Mexico.
The star defender from France limped out of a training session due to an injury on his calf and now will probably be out of the clash this Thursday. Gallas also happens to be France’s vice captain and played a full 90 minutes of the draw against Uruguay. He showed no signs of lethargy or a stress in the match however training for just 45 minutes he had to excuse himself because of the injury.
Media reports have confirmed that the 32 year old was facing problems which later the team doctors deemed as a prudent precautionary measure. How later reports by them have brought out that the Les Bleus might not be able to use his services.
His team mate Patrice Evra will take up his role till then but this will come as a heavy blow to coach Raymond Domenech.
The match against Mexico will be crucial for France in many respects. For instance they not just have to gain the desperately needed points but they will have to prove their dominance in the tournament.
Frech player Eric Abidal believes so too though he is optimistic of their approach so far. He clarified that in the World Cup in Germany 2006, Raymond Domenech and his team started a similar campaign; in resemblance to the 1-1 draw with Urugauy but still in the end they went on to reach the final.
Abidal told media, “Against Mexico we have to play for a win and nothing less. In 2006 it was the same, we began with a 0-0 draw with Switzerland, but slowly but surely victories followed victories. We have to be able to step up a gear and make it out of the first round.”
Though he still admitted later that they should have achieved more in the match, “One goal would have seen us okay. At this high level it comes down to small details.”
The Problems for France don’t just end at the performance stage. Their reserve goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso is also having thigh problems. With that there are recent reports about the young left back of Olympique Lyonnias, Aly Cissokho who is on the verge of abandoning France for Senegal.
The 22 year old from Blois wasn’t even in the original 23 men selected for South Africa though recent times have put him on hold. Now he has requested a meeting with the Senegalese Football Association. He has accepted the French offer in the squad three times but with players like Patrice Evra, Eric Abidal, Benoit Tremoulinas and Gael Clichy looming around he is thinking of changing alliance to Les Lions de la Teranga from where he inherits his ancestry.
Cissokho played for Lyon in 48 matches last season and helped them run to the Champions League semi-finals. He made his move to Lyon from Porto last year around this time for €15 million.
The El Tri also know the importance of their game against France. Rafael Marquez has announced that in order for an easier path to victory, Mexico should halt French march while they have the chance.
This will turn out to be an interesting turn of events as the other Group game between South Africa and Uruguay starts just 24 hours before theirs. Talking to media he stated, “I think this game has to be approached as such. I think it is decisive and we must try to get three points to move forward.”
He also explained that knowing the results of the early group game would help them plan their play. Marquez admitted that the French indeed had quality but Mexico will try to avail all possible takes from the game.
He declared, “We know the power they have, the quality they have and at any time they can change everything. They are great players with great qualities and we cannot trust that you have not scored yet because we know they have the quality to do it.”
He also committed that he was an opportunist and stated that his main plan was counter attack on the French when time comes, “In the World Cup you have one or two chances and we have to put at least one of them away to have that advantage, we are aware of that and working for when we have one, we put it away.”
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