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Soccer Friday: Your Running Commentary

Riberyfrance

One friendly is already in the books today, but two more pre-World Cup friendlies are still to come. France will take on China (11:55am, ESPN2) as Les Bleus play one last tuneup before next week's opener against Uruguay on June 11.

The later match of the day will be of particular to U.S. fans interested in scouting group stage opponent Slovenia, as they host New Zealand at 2:45pm.

If you are already watching or will be watching either of Friday's friendlies on television or online, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and any play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. You’re talking about Jean-Marie Le Pen, who’s also a Holocaust-denier. His party’s motto is “France for the French.” Never mind that the black players, ahem, ARE French.

    He also complained about the makeup of the team in ’06 as well, and Lilian Thuram, who is an incredibly articulate man as well as a great soccer player, responded:

    “When we take to the field, we do so as Frenchmen. All of us. When people were celebrating our win, they were celebrating us as Frenchmen, not black men or white men. It doesn’t matter if we’re black or not, because we’re French. I’ve just got one thing to say to Jean Marie Le Pen. The French team are all very, very proud to be French. If he’s got a problem with us, that’s down to him but we are proud to represent this country. So Vive la France, but the true France. Not the France that he wants.”

    You can find the article from 6/30/06 in the Guardian.

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  2. Slovenia: worst uniforms (or “kits” to you eurosnobs)ever.

    Otherwise, not sure what to think of the team.

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  3. Nope. That’s why I had originally written “Here’s an interesting bit of (probably meaningless) trivia:” But I thought that was obvious. 🙂

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  4. yes I did, Italy did not give a crap and France just plane sucks but is better than Mexico. Just wait until the WC and you’ll see. Sorry about the reaction, dude.

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  5. Frankly I dont think that Italy or France will advance. Their coaches are old and senile as seen by their rosters. They have aging players who have been either in bad form or dont have the quickness, plus

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  6. i agree. i’ve been in Mexico for almost a year now, coincidentally, in Puebla. was going to every home game and watchin on TV.

    I think Mexico has a good chance to impress, and I wish them all the best.

    With that said, go USMNT!

    (and i’m now a Pachuca fan, go gringos 😉

    and besides, all these predictions don’t mean shite: of course you’ll feel good about yourself if they prove correct; but remember, the play the game for a reason.

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  7. With it’s win against Italy, a top-tier opponent and France’s loss to, of all countries, China, Mexican coaches and player have to all be smiling today. Firing on all cylinders when your WC Group opponents are not, is a confident feeling!!

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  8. Yes, the coach sucks cotton balls. France will need to beat Mexico in their last game, and I think they pull it out.

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  9. Why does no one think SA will advance??? The host nation has ALWAYS advanced. Even Japan in 02 and the US in 94. They are actually playing well too right now. I’m telling you, that African voodoo will work its magic to get them through. France and Uruguay will be going home early.

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  10. Well the point I’m trying to make is putting the goal as a result of luck. Lloris’ poor defense of the goal was a result of one hell of a strange fly of the ball which i would chalk up to luck. Lando got the ball to Deuce by at a certain amount of range threading the ball through a spanish defender’s legs. That wasn’t intentional; it found the exact right avenue to get to Dempsey and thus shares the common factor that I was reminded of in the Chinese goal. + the overwhelming majority of the game being played in the winners half.

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  11. Pirlo is reported to be a doubt for the World Cup due to a calf strain. Without knowing more, I would bet this is a made-up excuse so he doesn’t have to embarrass himself like he has been doing the last couple of years. He just isn’t quick enough any more to play at the highest level.

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  12. Obviously, I respectfully disagree.

    I don’t get the comparison with the Dempsey goal – yes an element of luck was involved, but that was at the end of nice build up involving four players, the Spainish defender stopped the cross, but could not control it with his momenteum going the wrong way. Demspey reacted instantly and finished it. Nothing at all in common but a ball winding up in the net.

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  13. Funny, it’s been used for several months in MLS with no complaints. Do you think the ball bends that way for the Chinese only because it’s made in China?

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  14. oh there were plenty of times when the US had 10 men in the box and if you say that was a poorly defended free kick (i won’t argue with you about it that was really poor by lloris) was Dempsey’s goal any better? Is France worse than Spain, yes. Is China worse than the USA, I would like to think so. Is the way the game was played all that different: hell no. The situation was different; the game was not. Thus it reminds me of USA vs Spain.

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  15. A half dozen reasons. Like France is not the reigning best team in the world with a 35 game unbeaten strike, this isn’t the semi-final of a major FIFA tournement, the US didn’t play ten in the box, the US didn’t score on a flukish and poorly defended free kick, Spain didn’t sit starters in the second half, and finally that Spain – US was not an ugly game characterized by a lack of urgency and attacking the first 60 minutes.

    It’s going to be a nice win for China (if they hold on) but I think your comparison (a) is getting carried away with things and (b) cheapens the US victory.

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  16. Jozy will be ready for England, but will probably miss the Australia Match as a precaution.

    On another topic, France is losing 1-0 to China in the 84 minute! and France looks like s h i t e, Mexico is going to win that group.

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