‘Arsenal need a miracle to win a trophy’

January 12, 2010

Arsenal lie third in the Premier League table with 42 points from twenty matches, three points less than table topper Chelsea, and are still in the race to win the FA Cup and the Champions League. So far, there’s nothing lost for Arsene Wenger’s team but Andrei Arshavin thinks it will be a hell of a job to win a trophy this season.

Arsenal have been without Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott in recent months, and as such the burden of responsibility up front has fallen on Arshavin.

“My greatest dream is to win a title with my club,” Arshavin told the Mirror.

“Naturally, it would be better if we won the Premier League or the Champions League, but to do this we need a miracle – which is to start playing finally with our optimal line up.”

“I do not think we have had it once so far this season.”

Despite the growing injury crisis, Arshavin added that he is not convinced Arsenal will buy a new striker in the transfer window.

Wenger has been linked with Carlton Cole, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Louis Saha, but the Russian said: “I have a feeling that Arsenal are not going to buy any new players in the winter transfer window. Or if we do, it will be at the very last moment.”

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, andrei, Andrei Arshavin, arsenal, arsene wenger, Carlton Cole, cesc fabregas, champions league, CHELSEA, FA Cup, gignac, greatest dream, injury crisis, last moment, Louis, miracle, Nicklas Bendtner, premier league, robin van persie, striker, table topper, theo walcott, trophy

10 good reasons to love Raymond Domenech

November 20, 2009

Overseeing qualification for the World Cup via a blatant handball is unlikely to do much for the popularity of French coach Raymond Domenech, either at home or abroad (his Wikipedia page is currently saying some very nasty things about him, but it will doubtless be put back to its less offensive version soon).

The 57-year-old former defender, whose name is booed at every match, has never made any effort to make himself popular, but here are 10 reasons (or nearly 10) why football fans may want to reconsider their view:

1. He has never won anything as a coach, a characteristic shared by most soccer fans, which makes him less intimidating than, say, Giovanni Trapattoni.

2. He was a workaholic defender with limited skills in his playing days, with makes a nice change in a country full of retired magicians.

3. He is more successful as a coach than the great Michel Platini, under the guidance of whom France failed to win a single match at Euro 92.

4. He convinced Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele to come out of retirement and guide France all the way to the 2006 World Cup final.

5. He made Yoann Gourcuff his playmaker when others doubted he even had a place in the starting line-up.

6. He made sure Loic Remy, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Bafetimbi Gomis became famous outside their regions.

7. He is an incurable romantic, asking his partner to marry him rather than apologising to the fans after France lost a World Cup final largely because of Zidane’s infamous headbutt.

8. He is not obsessed with television, being the only Frenchman not to have watched the replay of Wednesday’s controversial goal.

9. Most people don’t like him, so being a fan of Domenech is more original than liking Nelson Mandela, the Beatles or chocolate ice cream.

10. OK, that’s only nine. Anyone care to nominate a 10th?

PHOTO: France team coach Raymond Domenech (C) celebrates their win against Ireland in their World Cup qualifying playoff return leg match at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis near Paris November 18, 2009. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

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Tags: apologising, chocolate ice cream, controversial goal, football fans, france team, french coach, gignac, giovanni trapattoni, gomis, headbutt, lilian thuram, nasty things, nelson mandela, photo france, playmaker, return leg, single match, soccer fans, team coach

France edge victory in Faroe mission

August 12, 2009

France showed their class but failed to pile on the goals in a 1-0 win over Faroe Islands Wednesday which reinforced their bid for a place in next year’s World Cup finals.

A first-half goal from Andre-Pierre Gignac was enough to give Raymond Domenech’s side three points from a crucial qualifier which cut their deficit to group seven leaders Serbia to five points.

Serbia, who did not play on Wednesday, have played one more game than France.

There was simply no room for error for France in this match but Domenech’s side showed plenty of will and had their hosts on the back foot for the entire match.

But for a bumpy pitch that looked designed to cut France’s speed, the visitors would have put the game beyond reach of their hosts after spurning a series of missed chances from a one-sided first half.

The Faroes, who have taken their only point from a draw with Austria, were reduced to stacking defenders and midfielders behind the ball and relying on missed passes and luck to do the rest.

Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka, Yoann Gourcuff of Bordeaux and big Toulouse striker Gignac were all lively throughout the opening period, the trio missing several chances to score.

However, it was Gignac who broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time to claim his first goal for Les Bleus.

Despite close marking he collected Florent Malouda’s low pass on the turn and struck a right-foot shot which beat Jakup Mikkelsen at his near post.

In the 52nd minute a panicking Mikkelsen was forced to slap the ball away from danger after being duped by a corner from Malouda, which first ricocheted off the post.

Malouda came agonisinly close to doubling the score only for his header, after a superb cross from Gourcuff, to climb just over the crossbar.

The Frenchman made way for Franck Ribery in the 65th minute, a substitution that is likely to have Ribery’s bosses at Bayern Munich sweating as he continues his recovery from injury.

Ribery made an almost immediate impact, lobbing the ball over the hosts’ defence for Gourcuff. Instead of shooting, he passed wide to Gignac whose shot was turned away by the foot of Mikkelsen.

France then won a free kick on the edge of the area but Ribery’s curling effort was just over the bar. Minutes before then Anelka saw his impressive header from a long Toulalan pass skirt just over the crossbar.

Anelka and Ribery were again involved as they ran rings round the hosts as the clock ticked down to the final whistle, but despite Gourcuff side-footing the ball into the net he was ruled for offside.

Faroes coach Brian Kerr then replaced Suni Olsen with Jakup Borg for the final 10 minutes but that change made little difference to the hosts, who now have one point from six matches.

TORSHAVN, Faroe Islands (AFP)

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, Austria, Bayern, bayern munich, Bordeaux, brian kerr, bumpy pitch, CHELSEA, crossbar, deadlock, entire match, faroe islands, faroes, five points, florent malouda, France, franck ribery, gignac, les bleus, midfielders, mikkelsen, Nicolas Anelka, raymond domenech, right foot, three minutes, Toulouse, world cup finals, yoann gourcuff

Vieira could boost Lyon, says Boumsong

July 11, 2009

Deposed French league champions Lyon could benefit from having ex-France skipper, and former Arsenal ace, Patrick Vieira in their line-up, defender Jean-Alain Boumsong said on Friday.

“He could contribute a great deal to the club and fill the gap left by the departure of Juninho,” Boumsong told reporters at Lyon’s training camp in this French Alpine resort.

“He has been captain of France and the experience and the aura he radiates could only add value to our team,” he added.

Although 33-year-old Vieira was an irregular performer last season at Inter Milan due to a thigh injury, has been linked with a move to Lyon.

However, manager Claude Puel, making it clear the priority now is for more attacking power rather than another defender, has approached Toulouse about striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, the league’s top goal scorer last season.

“The player is interested and is aware that we have made an offer to Toulouse, so the ball is his court,” Puel said.

The 23-year-old, who scored 24 times for Toulouse, “has the right profile and is a very good footballer,” added the coach.

TIGNES, France (AFP)

Tags: Ace, Andre-Pierre, arsenal, claude puel, deal, footballer, France, french alpine resort, french league, gap, gignac, goal scorer, inter milan, jean alain boumsong, juninho, league champions, Ligue 1, Lyon, manager, Milan, patrick vieira, right profile, skipper, striker, thigh injury, TIGNES, Toulouse, training camp

Bordeaux keep pace with Marseille

May 3, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Bordeaux ensured that the French league title would remain a two horse race when they beat relegation-threatened Sochaux 3-0 on Sunday and edged a little bit nearer what would be their first title since 1999.

However, Bordeaux coach and former France international great Laurent Blanc was not totally over the moon about his side’s victory which saw them go level on points with Marseille and just below them on goal difference.

“We lacked a little bit of energy,” said Blanc.

“It wasn’t easy to recuperate after the match with Rennes (last Wednesday down to 10-men Bordeaux came from behind to beat Rennes 3-2).

“However, these bunch of guys will not let anything go.

“I hope that they will get their due reward. What is the reward? The Champions League.”

Marseille’s hopes of getting a break on Bordeaux and moving closer to a first French league title since 1992 suffered a setback on Saturday when they had to settle for a share of the points in a tense 2-2 home draw with Toulouse.

Marseille began the match with a two-point lead over Bordeaux and a six-point cushion on seven-time champions Lyon, but instead of capitalising on Lyon’s shock 2-0 defeat to Valenciennes earlier Eric Gerets side dropped two precious points.

Gerets dropped a bombshell on the club in midweek when he announced his departure at the end of this season due to “unjustified” criticism from club owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus at the start of the year.

But that did not stop the Belgian from getting emotional on the sidelines about a match in which both sides had victory within their grasp.

Andre-Pierre Gignac, who recently made his debut for France, opened the scoring for Toulouse in the 48th minute, only for Mahamadou Niang to pull Marseille level 15 minutes later.

Gignac then took advantage of some slack Marseille defending to grab his second, only for Niang, a minute later, to be credited with a second goal which took a freakish deflection.

Gignac is now the league’s leading scorer with 21 goals, but it is a place in Europe next season which Toulouse, in fifth place two points behind Paris Saint Germain, covet most.

“To get a draw at Marseille, who are playing well right now, can’t be sniffed at,” said Toulouse coach Alain Casanova.

“After the season we’ve had, we have to aim for a place in Europe.”

Reigning champions Lyon’s hopes of an eighth consecutive crown were seriously dashed after a shock 2-0 defeat away to northern side Valenciennes.

Valenciennes’ Johan Audel scored a first-half brace in a match in which Lyon failed to put their title credentials on display, leaving them at the mercy of results elsewhere.

Even before Marseille hosted Toulouse later Saturday, Lyon midfielder Cris all but sounded the death knell for his side.

“As far as the title goes, it’s over for us tonight,” the Brazilian told Canal Plus television.

“All we can do now is concentrate on our last four matches to make sure of our place in the Champions League.”

He added: “We can’t take anything away from Valenciennes. We were pitiful. In the first half we barely got out of second gear, and it was hardly better in the second half.”

Tags: Alain Casanova, Andre-Pierre Gignac, bombshell, Bordeaux, club owner, deflection, due reward, eric gerets, Europe, France, french league title, Germain, gignac, goal difference, horse race, johan audel, laurent blanc, Ligue 1, Lyon, Marseille, midweek, niang, PARIS, point cushion, precious points, Rennes, robert louis dreyfus, sidelines, sochaux, time champions, Toulouse, unjustified criticism

Last-minute goal puts Guingamp in final

April 23, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – A last-minute goal from Senegalese substitute Badarade Sene gave 10-man Guingamp of the second division a 2-1 win over top flight Toulouse on Wednesday and a place in the French Cup final.

Guingamp will meet Rennes, who defeated Grenoble on Tuesday, in the final.

They took the lead in the 28th minute through Dos Santos Eduardo before Andre-Pierre Gignac equalised in the 74th minute.

Richard Soumah had already been sent-off for Guingamp in the 52nd minute for a second yellow card, but the red-card only served to drive the outsiders ahead and grab the winner in the last minute.

Toulouse goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso was at fault when he failed to hold on to a stinging free-kick from Sene.

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, Cedric Carrasso, free kick, french cup, gignac, Goalkeeper, Grenoble, guingamp, last minute toulouse, Ligue 1, minute goal, outsiders, PARIS, Rennes, Richard Soumah, Santos, sene, soumah, top flight, Toulouse, yellow card

Bordeaux take over top spot in France

April 12, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Bordeaux dethroned serial champions Lyon, at least overnight, from top spot in the French league on Saturday after a 2-0 win at Auxerre achieved with goals in either half from Brazilians Fernando and Geraldo Wendel.

Fernando struck ten minutes before the interval and Wendel added the second in the 80th minute to send Laurent Blanc’s Girondins into pole position with 59 points from 31 games, level on points with Lyon, who chasing an eighth straight title and who host Monaco on Sunday.

If Lyon avoid defeat and Marseille can see off Grenoble at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, then Bordeaux will slide back to third, while a Paris Saint Germain win in Lille will move the Parisians to within a point of Blanc’s men going into the final stretch of the season.

Lille themselves will be out for a win which would put them just a solitary point shy of Bordeaux in what has become a six-horse race for the title.

Elsewhere Saturday, Toulouse moved provisionally a point clear of PSG and Lille into fourth spot to keep alive their own unlikely bid for glory as an Andre-Pierre Gignac’s 19th goal of the campaign saw off Nantes, who are stuck in the drop zone which Caen exited thanks to a 2-1 success at Le Havre.

Steve Savidan and Reynald Lemaitre netted for Caen, who were hoping Rennes could see off Saint Etienne in the late match to keep Les Verts beneath them and in the drop zone.

Le Mans beat Sochaux 2-0 in a battle between sides who are still looking over their shoulders while Nancy likewise overcame Valenciennes 2-0 to keep away from immediate danger.

In Saturday’s other encounter, Nice beat Lorient 2-0 in a mid-table meeting.

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, auxerre, Bordeaux, brazilians, drop zone, Fernando, France, french league, Geraldo, gignac, girondins, Grenoble, horse race, laurent blanc, Le Havre, Ligue 1, Lille, Lorient, Lyon, Mans, Marseille, mid table, Monaco, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, nice beat, PARIS, paris saint germain, parisians, reynald lemaitre, saint etienne, Saint Germain, savidan, sochaux, solitary point, stade velodrome, Steve Savidan, straight title, Toulouse

France braced for Lithuania double jeopardy

March 28, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – France, marshalled by an in-form Thierry Henry, put their World Cup qualifying lives on the line in back-to-back games against Lithuania over the next five days.

Coach Raymond Domenech is looking for a maximum harvest of points from Saturday’s trip to Kaunus and Wednesday’s return at the Stade de France.

And a quick look at Group Seven explains why, with the 1998 World Cup winners and 2006 finalists trailing co-leaders Serbia and Lithuania in third place and by five points although the French have a game in hand.

Henry is France’s leading scorer and his buoyant form for Barcelona this season makes him the key man in attack in the absence of the injured Nicolas Anelka.

The influential Chelsea forward was ruled out of contention at the start of the week with a toe injury, while another striker, Rennes novice Jimmy Briand, is also a non-starter after picking up a knee injury in training on Wednesday.

Henry aside, the relative inexperience of France’s forwards is mirrored in defence with Willy Sagnol and Lilian Thuram retired and Eric Abidal injured.

Domenech, who must also contend with an injury concern surrounding novice Andre Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, is in no doubt over the former Arsenal star’s importance.

"We can’t say that we are at our best at the moment, except for ‘Titi’, who is sensational," said the coach who has been under attack since France crashed out of Euro 2008.

Domenech, asked about tactics for Saturday’s qualifier, was his usual guarded safe.

"I have lots of ideas, I have lots of options," he said. "If there are no more problems, it will be a system with one striker and three attacking midfielders behind, or two strikers.

"But with ‘Titi’ (Henry), we can use him anywhere, except as a right wing, where even he doesn’t feel comfortable."

Despite the positive showing of number two keeper Hugo Lloris, Domenech did reveal that for stability and continuity’s sake he planned to stick with his top stopper Steve Mandanda, who turns 24 on Saturday,

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra spelled out precisely what was at stake in the Lithuania double header.

"A good result from the two matches would be six points. I like to feel pressure to win, even if Lithuania are top of the group, but we respect them."

He said he wasn’t about to contemplate the unthinkable of France not making it to South Africa next year.

"We are not ready to think about that, but it is important not to allow teams to get too far ahead of us which would then make it difficult. For us to be comfortable, we need to win these two matches."

Waiting for France in Kaunus is a Lithuania side set to feature Deividas Cesnauskis, the Hearts midfielder, and Tomas Danilevicius, who plays his club football in Italy with Livorno and is the only out and out striker in the squad.

But fellow Serie A player Marius Stankevicius, the Sampdoria defender, is injured and will miss both qualifiers.

Evra meanwhile took a swipe at those French supporters who have taken to whistling their national side.

"It is really unbelievable. You get the impression that sometimes it would be better if we told the public to stay at home and not come and support the players," Evra said.

"We have already spoken about it amongst the players. You come onto the pitch and get whistled already. You have to ask the public, maybe they don’t like football."

Written by: AFP

Tags: euro 2008, five points, gignac, Italy, jimmy briand, key man, knee injury, lilian thuram, Manchester, Nicolas Anelka, no doubt, raymond domenech, relative inexperience, South Africa, stade de france, Steve Mandanda, striker, thierry henry, titi henry, toe injury, World Cup, world cup winners

Gignac earns first France call-up

March 19, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – France coach Raymond Domenech on Thursday left out-of-form captain Patrick Vieria out of his squad for the crucial World Cup double header against Lithuania.

Domenech awarded a first call-up to the French league’s top scorer, Andre-Pierre Gignac, who looks to be promised some action in either Les Bleus match in Kaunas on March 28 or the Stade de France encounter on April 1.

While Gignac’s inclusion has won the Toulouse forward wide plaudits, the pre-selection questions on whether Vieria would be called up are now answered.

Vieira only recently returned to action for Inter after a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles tendon problem.

But it appears the Frenchman’s bitter Euro 2008 experience, which was said to prey heavily on the squad prior to their early exit from the tournament, has left its mark on Domenech.

Asked whether Vieira’s forced exit from last summer’s tournament was a factor, Domenech said it had certainly proved helpful as an experience.

"We must learn from all experiences. And you have to go on and improve on them each time," said the French coach.

"I’ve had a talk with Pat (Vieira). He knows he’s not in top form, he hasn’t played much.

"The day he comes back, he will regain the captain’s armband from Thierry Henry."

Gignac, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his goal-scoring exploits at Toulouse with the fifth spot in Domenech’s pool of strikers.

The 23-year-old leads the French division scoring charts with 17 goals and he has been selected ahead of Paris St-Germain’s in-form hitman Guillaume Hoarau, who has netted 15 times.

"How he performs for France will show whether we’ve made the right decision or not. But I prefer that there’s competition for places up front," added Domenech.

Domenech stopped short of saying whether Barcelona forward Thierry Henry would be moved back into a more central position.

"It’s an option. I have a lot of players who can play on the left: Karim (Benzema), Nico (Anelka), Jimmy (Briand), Titi (Henry), Franck (Ribery), Samir (Nasri) who do it from time to time," added Domenech.

"We just have to find our central forward."

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra and Lille’s Adil Rami both return to the squad, with fellow defenders Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon) and Julien Escude (Sevilla) all ruled out by injury.

France currently lie third in European qualifying group seven and Domenech is under pressure to secure their qualification after overseeing a meek group-stage exit at Euro 2008.

The 1998 World Cup winners have just one win to show from their first three matches – a 2-1 victory at home to Serbia – having suffered a shock 3-1 defeat in Austria and fought back to draw 2-2 in Romania.

They trail Serbia and Lithuania by four points but have a game in hand on both.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Toulouse)

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Rod Fanni (Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Philippe Mexes (Roma/ITA), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Adil Rami (Lille)

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Samir Nasri (Arsenal/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER)

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)

Written by: AFP

Tags: achilles tendon, Adil Rami, anelka, captain patrick, captain Patrick Vieria, central position, CHELSEA, double header, early exit, euro 2008, france coach, french coach, french division, french league, gignac, Guillaume Hoarau, Henry, jean alain boumsong, jimmy briand, Karim Benzema, les bleus, Ligue 1, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nicolas Anelka, PARIS, paris st germain, raymond domenech, Samir Nasri, Steve Mandanda, Thierry, thierry henry, titi henry, Toulouse, World Cup

Bordeaux victory keeps their sights on Europe

March 15, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Goals from Marouane Chamakh and Carlos Henrique in Bordeaux’s 2-1 win against Nice on Saturday enabled Laurent Blanc’s men to keep their sights on European action next season.

They jumped from fifth to third, relegating Toulouse, who lost 3-2 at Monaco, down a place to fifth. Leaders Lyon host Auxerre and second-placed Paris Saint Germain meet arch rivals and fourth-placed Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Bordeaux went ahead in the 19th minute when, following a corner, the ball went out to Yoann Gourcuff whose powerful initial shot set up Chamakh to score.

The joy at the Chaban-Delmas stadium was short-lived however as Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame committed a foul in the box and the subsequent penalty was scored by Habib Bamogo just five minutes later.

Three minutes after the break, Bordeaux got the winner thanks to a near-post header by Henrique following a Wendel cross.

Toulouse coach Alain Casanova was in despondant mood after their defeat to Monaco.

"It was a pity to lose this match. We were never really in danger in open play and then conceded three goals from freekicks," Casanova said.

"We are defending very badly in these situations. This defeat means we will have to re-evaluate things and get back to work. We should have calmly defended our lead in the second half and been more disciplined when we lost the ball. That didn’t happen."

Andre-Pierre Gignac scored for Toulouse and Frederic Nimani equalised for Monaco to leave the match 1-1 at the break. Mauro Cetto put Toulouse ahead but goals from Francois Modesto and then Igor Lolo in the second minute of injury time earned Monaco the win.

Written by: AFP