Domenech to select 'New Zidane' Nasri

Domenech to select 'New Zidane' Nasri

eenage Olympique Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri seems poised to make his France debut in Wednesday's friendly against Austria at the Stade de France.

Coach Raymond Domenech stopped short of naming his team on Tuesday but did say there would be surprises. 'I'm capable of everything,' Domenech told reporters. 'If the players are in the squad it is because I know they are capable of playing.'

Sports daily L'Equipe said that Domenech had already made up his mind to play Nasri. The 19-year-old is of Algerian descent, grew up in a rough Marseille suburb and has an abundance of skill, all qualities reminiscent of former captain Zinedine Zidane.

According to L'Equipe, Philippe Mexes will team up with captain Lilian Thuram in central defence with Francois Clerc and Julien Escude at full back. Chelsea's Lassana Diarra and Arsenal's Abou Diaby, who won their first caps in Saturday's 1-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win in Lithuania, were expected to start alongside Rio Mavuba and Nasri in midfield with Djibril Cisse and Nicolas Anelka up front.
Probable team: Gregory Coupet; Francois Clerc, Philippe Mexes, Lilian Thuram, Julien Escude; Lassana Diarra, Rio Mavuba, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri; Djibril Cisse, Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka glad to be France's match-winner again

Nicolas Anelka was back in favour with coach Raymond Domenech after scoring the winner for France against Lithuania in a Euro 2008 Group B qualifier on Saturday.


The former 'enfant terrible' of French soccer, who was left out of the squad for three years after snubbing a late call-up in 2002, produced a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-0 victory in Kaunas.

As France struggled to break the deadlock, Anelka slalomed through the midfield to score with a 20-metre low shot in the 74th minute. 'It is the Nicolas I like to see,' Domenech told reporters after a game that left France second in the standings, level on points with leaders Scotland. 'When he shows these qualities, he is a candidate for a permanent place in the squad. There is no question about it.' The Bolton Wanderers striker, who has netted his ninth goal from 35 appearances with France, proved he was a reliable replacement for Thierry Henry.

The Arsenal skipper missed the game through injury and could also be left out for France's qualifiers against Ukraine and Georgia in June. 'It is good to have scored in an important game, away from home,' said Anelka, who was omitted from the France squad for the 2006 World Cup. 'There was more pressure but I am used to play these big games. And this was a big match. It is a pleasure to play with France,' the 29-year-old added.

Lithuania 0-1 France full report.

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Lithuania 0-1 France

Anelka to the rescue for France

France had Nicolas Anelka to thank for the fine individual goal that earned them a 1-0 win at Lithuania and keeps them joint-top of Group B behind Scotland.

Ninth goal for France
Anelka claimed the three points for Raymond Domenech's side after 73 minutes, cutting infield from the left flank and driving a low shot past the despairing dive of Žydrunas Karčemarkas from 25 metres. It was the 28-year-old's ninth goal in 35 appearances and ensured Les Bleus their fourth victory from five UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers. For the hard-working hosts, meanwhile, this second defeat in four matches leaves them fifth in Group B ahead of Wednesday's visit to Ukraine.

Diarra debut
Missing six first-team regulars in Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Franck Ribéry, Louis Saha, Mikaël Silvestre and David Trezeguet, coach Domenech handed a debut to Chelsea FC midfielder Lassana Diarra and also included Jérémy Toulalan of Olympique Lyonnais, capped once before. On a bumpy pitch, Les Bleus struggled to find their stride, their first shot on goal coming on 21 minutes when Florent Malouda sent a low effort straight at the goalkeeper. A more serious threat followed soon after as Sidney Govou flicked on Willy Sagnol's long throw and Anelka's low strike forced a fingertip save.

Sagnol block
Having withstood that spell of pressure, Lithuania began asking questions at the other end. Arunas Klimavičius headed wide from Mantas Savenas's free-kick and then Deividas Šemberas flashed a cross-cum-shot over. With France looking increasingly frustrated, they had Sagnol to thank for a superb block that stopped striker Robertas Poškus's shot on the stroke of half-time.

All-important goal
The game opened up after the break. Malouda put an inviting ball across goal only for Tomas Zvirgzdauskas to get there ahead of Anelka. Although Lithuania defender Marius Stankevicius blazed an effort just wide of the far post, France were gradually asserting themselves and Anelka was profligate when blasting a close-range attempt over. However, the forward grabbed the all-important goal 17 minutes from time and the win would have been more comfortable had substitute Djibril Cissé not driven over in the closing stages.

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Lithuania 0-1 France.. Anelka's goal:

France, Lithuania both missing top players

France is heading to Lithuania for a European Championship qualifier with a depleted squad desperate for a win.

The host will be in the exact same position on Saturday in Kaunas, 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

"France is a very strong team, but we are not going to defend our goal blindly for 90 minutes, keeping nine players back and one in front," Lithuania coach Algimantas Liubinskas said.

France is tied with Scotland at the top of Group B with nine points each, ahead of World Cup champion Italy. Lithuania, which held Italy to a 1-1 draw in September, is in fifth place with four points but has a game in hand.

"Everyone is aware of the importance of this match," France midfielder Florent Malouda said on Thursday. "We are not aiming for a draw. We are aiming for victory. We can't waste any more chances."

France will be without captain Patrick Vieira, strikers Thierry Henry and Louis Saha, and winger Franck Ribery.

"There are people missing, yes," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "The manager must adapt to the circumstances. That's a manager's job."

Instead, France may have to rely on midfielders Lassana Diarra, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri, and striker Karim Benzema. None of the four has played in an international for France.

"They can play. They can get into the team," Domenech said. "They all play in big clubs and are used to the top level."

Lithuania will be missing two of its top players - striker Edgaras Jankauskas and midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas. Both are injured.

Franck "Bilal" Ribéry (born April1, 1983, in) is a French football player who currently plays for Olympique Marseille either as an attacking midfielder or a left- or right-sided winger, and recently has been touted by the media as the successor to the French national team talisman Zidane, due to his increasingly impressive performances.

Ribery started his playing career at his home town club and moved to Alès, before Brest and Metz signed him in consecutive seasons. His loan to Galatasaray marked the inevitable move to another club at the end of the 2004-05 season, and with the move to Olympique Marseille he looks to have finally settled into a team. His stellar play with the Olympique Marseille has earned him top French player honors for the months of August, October and November 2005.

On June 12, 2006, he was named in the starting lineup of the French team for their opener in the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Switzerland. His first international goal proved to be a crucial one, levelling France at 1-1 with Spain in the 41st minute of their knockout round match after calmly rounding the Spanish keeper, Though Spain were the favourites, France went on to win that game 3-1 to book a quarter-final slot against Brazil.
Upon facing Brazil, Ribéry was substituted in the 75th minute of the 1-0 victory following an impressive performance.He also played in the World Cup final defeat to Italy where he went close with a low shot in the first half of extra-time.

Ribéry is a Muslim, having converted to Islam around the time he married his Muslim fiance Wahiba Belhami who is of Algerian descent. Ribéry has adopted the Arabic name Bilal.

Zidane, A living legend!!!
This video shows some classy football of Zizou.

By the way, Screw you Materazzi.