France Fans, Let’s Get Ready for Euros!
Hey, France fans. There is less than a month to go before the start of Euro 2008. This means it’s time to start preparing ourselves.
From now through the start of Euros, the France National Team page over at World Cup Blog will be running daily polls about issues affecting the team. Current topic? Given that Eric Abidal is almost certainly the first choice at leftback, who should his backup be? Clichy, Evra, Escude, or…?
Please stop by every day to vote and offer up your thoughts.
Allez les Bleus!
Domenech Releases France Squad
By: Corey |
10 Comments
Ohhh boy, here is Ray Ray’s new squad list, all the possible player he will evaluate to take to the EURO this summer, because late season form does not seem to matter to much to him. Curious choices include leaving David Trezeguet out yet again, which looks likely to continue past the [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Coupe de France: You Say Barnsley, I Say USJA Carquefou
By: Sam | 2 Comments
Everyone knows that every year there’s that one lower-division club that makes a mockery of a few bigger names in the domestic cup, wherever it may be. French fans usually name Calais or Lyon-La-Duchère, or Monceau-Les-Mines as we saw last year. But hey, hey, what do you say- We’ve got a new David on the [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
All That Talent?
By: Corey | 8 Comments
Everyone seems to know about Benzema and Ben Arfa at Lyon, Nasri and Valbuena at Marseille, even Menez and Gakpe at Monaco. What people dont know though is that Ligue 1 has so much more to offer in terms of talent then just these few youngsters. Yeah, thats right, lots and lots of young talent [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Ligue Dooo
By: Corey | 9 Comments
Not to many people watch Ligue 2 outside France. And whether you can admit it or not, people dont really watch Ligue 1 much out of France unfortunately. But I think its time we take a look at Ligue 2 and see whats goin on down there.
This reads as such:
Position Team Points Wins [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
The Stupid Sending-Off To Rule Over All Other Stupid Sendings-Off
By: Sam | 6 Comments
Ever since I really got into professional football a few years back, I’d been wondering if it had ever been done, but I never in my life had heard of it happening. Until today. In a Ligue 2 match that couldn’t possibly have been more ordinary, pitting middle-of-the-pack Reims [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
France Squad Announced
By: Corey | 16 Comments
So Ray Ray Domenech looked at the stars and checked the back of the Enquirer to figure out some horoscopes and came up with a team list for the matches in Malaga, Spain next week. I say matches because the A-team will take on DR Congo while the full squad plays Spain. So thats why [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Matchday 23: Cissé Is Definitely Back! Coupet Is Not!
By: Sam | 1 Comment
Sometimes things just go your way, don’t they? Ask a Marseille fan, and they won’t really know what to tell you. OM have had their fair share of bad luck so far this season, with injuries, bad breaks and questionable refereeing, but the gods must have pitied them last [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Transfer Gossip !?!
By: Corey | 2 Comments
Lots of stuff goin on this week as the winter market is winding down, so here we go. - Sergio Almiron has moved on loan to Monaco from Juve. Obviously looking for may playing time, he will have to compete with nobody for it, as Monaco’s central midfield could use a player like him. - Auxerre have [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Reviews and Previews
By: Corey | Add Comments
We had a full slate of action on Wednesday in Ligue 1, some entertaining affairs if I do say so. I enjoyed a Lyon victory over a resurgent Lorient, as the league leaders looked to return to their devasting self. I also was delighted to see Lens and Lille pick up wins in their bid [...]
Read the rest of this entry »
Team News
Karim Benzema is Ligue 1's Player of the Year
Remember when I mentioned the UNFP Awards? Today, the ceremony took place.
Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema won Player of the Year, beating out teammate Jeremy Toulalan, Marseille's Mahamadou Niang, and Bordeaux's Wendel. He's the fourth Lyonnais in a row to win the award - Florent Malouda in 2007, Juninho in 2006, and Michael Essien in 2005, . However, unlike the others, Benzema is only 20 years old. So it's just exciting to imagine just what he'll accomplish next.
Hatem Ben Arfa took home the Young Player of the Year. Samir Nasri preceded him in 2007, Franck Ribery in 2006, and Toulalan in 2005.
The Female Player of the Year was awarded to Lyon's Sonia Bompastor, who succeeded another Lyon player, Camile Abily in 2007. This is the second year in a row when Lyon won both best male and female player.
(Also, how cute is Zizou presenting the award to Benzema? They look so alike...are so alike in many ways that it gives me shivers.)
PSG 1-1 St Etienne
It was Pedro Pauleta last game at the Parc des Princes tonight. After 5 years playing for Paris and 109 goals, which make him the top striker in the history of the club. So the stadium was packed with 45 350, new record since the Parc has been rebuild. Well ...
May 11, 2008 | Read this article...
Lyon vs. Nancy: Please Don't Screw This Up
I was hoping that the most decisive game this year wouldn't be against Nancy, whose players are anything but "Nancy boys." But thanks to Lyon taking their title run a little too casually this season, the only way to ensure their glory is to overcome France's best defense - a defense that could very well be in the Champions League next year.
May 9, 2008
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
2:45 PM ET (20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT)
Miralem Pjanic is Coming to Lyon
I've been waiting a while to report this because all I've been seeing so far are whispered rumors, but now all the newspapers are reporting it, and the player himself was seen at Lyon last Wednesday. But neither the player nor the respective clubs have made a formal announcement, so don't get too excited yet.
I've mentioned Miralem Pjanic on this blog before, but only in passing, so here are some deets (I'll write up a more detailed background if when there is a press conference).
He's an 18 year old attacking midfielder playing for FC Metz, who will be relegated back to Ligue 2 at the end of this season. But despite the poor performance of his club, Pjanic has been outstanding and was often the sole bright light coming out of an otherwise doomed Saint-Symphorien.
Though it's his breakout year, his quality is so obvious that the biggest clubs in the world have been watching him week in and week out - Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter, Milan, etc. And two weeks ago, Barcelona made a formal offer.
Tony Sylva's Departure and Transfer Rumors
This monday's edition of La Voix des Sports, a French football website, had a transfer rumor regarding 2 ASSE keepers. Supposely, Jody Viviani and Jérémie Janot could both be heading to Lille next season. The rumor has not yet been confirmed however. Also, LOSC keeper Tony Sylva will not play ...
May 08, 2008 | Read this article...
Juninho's WUNDERGOAL Against Sedan
Juninho doesn't just look like Jesus. He's also got his divine powers. How else to explain this last minute free kick that defies the laws of physics, wins the game for Lyon, and propels the club to their first French Cup final in 33 years?
This is Juninho's 38th free ...
May 08, 2008 | Read this article...
Fabio Grosso Takes Off His Clothes Yet Again
Stripping down to his underwear seems to be an alarming habit. But at least he has an excuse this time - Lyon beat Sedan to make it to the Coupe de France finals for the first time since 1976.
I feel like I've been writing a lot about Grosso recently. ...
May 07, 2008 | Read this article...
Scoreless Draw At Stade Geoffroy Guichard
The current Ligue 1 season draws to a close, and Lille's position in the table has remained pretty stagnant. For several weeks now, LOSC has hovered around 6th place in the table. Last Sunday, two close clubs in the table battled it out at Stade Geoffroy Guichard, ASSE's (Association sportive ...
May 07, 2008 | Read this article...
CdF SEMIFINAL: Lyon vs. Sedan
Guess the last time that Lyon played in the Coupe de France semifinal?
If you guessed 1998 - exactly ten years ago - you're absolutely correct. The last time Lyon actually won this cup was 35 years ago. That was back in 1973, an event that dwarfed Watergate, the first season of The Price is Right, the last epidemic of smallpox, and Roe vs. Wade.
Here's hoping that 2008 will bring that cup back home to Lyon.
May 7th, 2008
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
3 PM Eastern Time (21:00 CET, 20:000 GMT)
Home 
