Tuesday, November 15, 2011

International friendly, Stade de France

France - Belgium

Kick-off at 21:00 CET

Les Bleus struggled for rhythm in the first half against the USA on Friday night as coach Laurent Blanc used the opportunity of a friendly match to give some game time to youngsters and new faces.

However, the introduction of Rémy and Martin around the hour mark produced the lone goal and turned the match around, and against Belgium at the Stade de France on Tuesday night Blanc is set to try this winning formula from the outset, although he realises that playing as a starter and as a substitute are two very different things.

Different kettle of fish

"When Martin comes on during the match, he clarifies our game, that's true, but we're talking about a moment when his mobility and his vision are more effective because the opposition have already been running for an hour," explained Blanc. "He has started games before and I thought they could have gone better, that he has room to improve. The same goes for Rémy."

Rémy firming for Euros berth

Rémy, who looks to have scored some important points towards a place in Blanc's side for the Euros next year, should start on the right of attack at the expense of Chelsea's Florent Malouda while Martin will pull the strings in the centre of the park in the absence of Manchester City's injured Samir Nasri.

Blanc has also earmarked fit-again Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Mamadou Sakho, who missed the last round of Euro qualifiers through injury and who warmed the bench against he USA, for a starting berth alongside Adil Rami as he continues to look to seek out an optimal central defensive pairing for next summer.

No Hazard warning

His defence should face some danger from Belgium star Eden Hazard, but for all his respect for the player, Blanc isn't overly focussed on the Lille midfielder.

"We know his value," said Blanc. "He has played for Lille in the French league for some time. But he has had some worries with the national team. Still, it's easy to forget that he's just 20 years old, with vast potential. Everyone expects him to dribble his way through defences every time but he doesn't yet have the necessary maturity nor the experience. But he's definitely a very talented player."  

M'Vila concern

Blanc does have a slight injury concern for key defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila, who took a slight knock against the USA, but the France coach has OM's Alou Diarra in the wings to partner fit-again Newscastle man Yohan Cabaye in front of the defence should M'Vila be forced to pull out.

Lyon's Hugo Lloris, who is firming as favourite to be named as long-term captain for the Euros, will once again wear the armband as Blanc's men look to use their penultimate friendly match before the continental tournament in Poland and Ukraine next summer to cement as starting XI.

Probable teams:

France: Lloris (c); Réveillère, Rami, Sakho, Abidal; M'Vila (or A. Diarra), Cabaye; Rémy, Martin, Ribéry; Benzema

Belgique: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany (c), Van Buyten, Vermaelen; Simons; Fellaini, Witsel; Dembele, Vossen, Hazard

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