Thursday, November 10, 2011

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11.11. (Fri) 21:00 France - USA

Euro 2012 Qualifer : Loic Remy (France)
Panoramic


 PROBABLE LINEUPS
FRANCE



Lloris
Reveilliere, Kaboul, Rami, Evra
Diarra, M'Vila
Menez, Martin, Malouda
Benzema
UNITED STATES
 Howard
Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Chandler
Williams, Edu, Bradley, Shea
Dempsey
Altidore
France have been dealt a blow with the news that Samir Nasri has withdrawn from the squad after suffering from an inflamed tendon in his left knee. The Manchester City star has been replaced by uncapped Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, whose stellar performances in Ligue 1 have not gone unnoticed by Laurent Blanc.
Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye, Marseille's Loic Remy and Chelsea's Florent Malouda are all recovering from minor knocks, and could start from the bench on Friday evening.
Blanc has also confirmed that Eric Abidal will not play against the USA after reaching an agreement with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola regarding his involvement in a Copa del Rey game on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klinsmann will be without record scorer and talisman Landon Donovan after the forward opted to stay with club L.A. Galaxy in preparation for the MLS Cup final on November 20 rather than travel to Paris for the clash. The starting line-up will, however, more or less resemble the team from their last international game against Ecuador last month.


DID YOU KNOW?

  • France secured a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina in their last international to qualify for Euro 2012. 
  • Les Bleus are unbeaten in 15 internationals, stretching back to September 2010. 
  • Karim Benzema has scored nine goals this campaign for Real Madrid, with Laurent Blanc hoping that the striker can lift a France side, who have mustered just seven goals in five games this season.
  • The United States have only won one game since their Gold Cup defeat to Mexico in June.
  • The 1-0 win over Honduras last month was also the Americans' only friendly international win since a narrow victory over South Africa last November.
  • Jurgen Klinsmann's men are ranked 34th in the world by Fifa, 19 places below their Gallic opposition.
  • Friday's clash at the Stade de France is the third meeting between the two sides. In 1979, Les Bleus recorded a 6-0 win in East Rutherford, before defeating the Americans again 3-0 in Paris later that year.

Prediction
With qualification for Euro 2012 secured, this match will act as a basis for those in Les Bleus squad whose places at the finals are far from assured, with stellar performances expected in front of the home crowd. A France victory looks likely, especially given the USA's poor run of form in international friendlies and their distinct lack of goals.
Editor's Prediction
France 2-0 United States