Zidane To Play For France

[Cowboy]

This French move smacks of desperation. So typical of people on here to immediately get negative. 7 pts and we are there. We can afford to draw with France . . . that being said, I still think we will win 1-0.
If I was half as pessimistic as some on here I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning. :mad:

Right on brother, some here would have you believe we should not bother even playing the game as our fate is sealed.

[elroy]

totalfootball if we finish level on points with Israel, they will finish above us cos of the aggregate over the two games against them-they scored twice in dublin.
This does hint at desperation but no doubt is a psychological boost for the french. Having said that I'd be more worried about Henry than ZZ or Makelele. Its looking very much like the do or die situation the Dutch were in when they came here in 01.
The most important thing for us is that we have a clean bill of health going into this game, particularly need the keanes, duff, given, cunningham, reid and finnan to be fit.

Remember we dont lose at home that often, 7 points is a very realistic target and with a bit of luck(which we are due) 9.

[Stuttgart88]

totalfootball if we finish level on points with Israel, they will finish above us cos of the aggregate over the two games against them-they scored twice in dublin.


WRONG! Honestly, I've checked it out. The rules are on FIFA's website - no mention in the rules of away goals counting if two sides tiew having drawn both their games. It's actually very clear. It'll go down to GD in ALL group games in this situation.

[dr_peepee]

Bring it on!!!!!..... It's already been Brought!!!

[Karlos]

I think you'd be naviie to think that the addition of Zidane, Makellele and Vieira (who didn't play in Paris) to the team in Dublin wouldn't give the french a huge boost coming into the game although that's not saying it'll make a huge difference

I still think we can beat France but i do believe it'll be a big boost for them to have players of that magnitute return to the team.

I am of the opinion that France will come good in this group at some stage, hopefully it doesn't start in September. :)

From a footballing perspective only, I'm delighted to finally get the opportunity to see one of the most talented players ever in the flesh ..........hopefully Kilbane will start but if not Zidane will have to do!!!!! :D :D

[fergalr]

Thuram will be back too according to a French journo on newstalk last night (backed up by this: http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-5189209,00.html).

Any chance of Garry Kelly, Lee Carsley, Steve Staunton, Dean Kiely and Curtis having a change of mind?

[geysir]

Thuram will be back too according to a French journo on newstalk last night (backed up by this: http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-5189209,00.html).

Any chance of Garry Kelly, Lee Carsley, Steve Staunton, Dean Kiely and Curtis having a change of mind?

I would not mind if Kiely changed his mind, I certainly would be shaking if Shay Given goes on the injured list.

[eirebhoy]

Reading this thread you'd think the fans are going to be playing the bloody French. :) What does it matter if the fans are pessimistic? From experience, it can only be positive when the fans don't expect to win a match like this and take the pressure off the players.

BTW - Zidane said he has no doubt Thuram will return aswell. I haven't seen him play in a while but I'd still say he's top class. Duffer better be on form.

[Cowboy]

Reading this thread you'd think the fans are going to be playing the bloody French. :) What does it matter if the fans are pessimistic? From experience, it can only be positive when the fans don't expect to win a match like this and take the pressure off the players.



I disagree, what happens if things dont go well in the first few mins and this pessimism transfers itself to the players via the atmosphere? A positive attitude from the start leads to better support which ultimately helps our team.

[tricky_colour]

I disagree, what happens if things dont go well in the first few mins and this pessimism transfers itself to the players via the atmosphere? A positive attitude from the start leads to better support which ultimately helps our team.

I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic, well I am not pessimistic anyway,
not overconfident either. I predict we win 10:0 :D

[jbyrne]

i dont think Zidane and Makellele will make a huge difference to our task to be honest. dont viera and makellele do more or less the same kind of job for the french anyway? it might actually upset the make up of their team. the fact that zidane is coming back might mean that he really has to play whether he is playing well or not.. he hasnt exactly set the world alight recently and there are lots of other very good french players who will have to be left out to allow the ageing zidane and co. play. we nearly always raise our game at home for the big games and i see no reason why this one should be any different..... as long as kenny, the keanes, duffer and shay are available and on form of course!!!

[loscherland]

Irish times today - Article saying that Zidane reckons Thuram will follow his example & make a return to the international fold...

[Stuttgart88]

We've got a CL winning full-back in our team, one of the best wingers in the world, a top-class international goalkeeper, a partisan home crowd that will be right up for it, a goalscorer with an international record as good as Michael Owen's, and Roy Keane. I don't care what anyone says about Keane these days but from October through to March of last season Man United showed championship form and in my opinion the main reason for this was Keane. Amid all the hype & hysteria about everything Chelsea-related I think it was completely lost on most people that for most of last season Roy Keane was every bit as influential as he has ever been. I thought he was quality in the FA Cup Final.

Bring them on. Allez Les Verts.

[Stuttgart88]

The next really big game in our group is Switzerland vs Israel...the worst outcome in this game is an Israel win.
According to Sky Sports' website this game will be shown live on SKY on Saturday 3rd. Kick-off time and channel TBC.

SKY also has Ireland U21 vs. France U21 on Tuesday 6th September.

[Stuttgart88]

This is Brian Kerr fan no.1 Paul Doyle's take on it:

Paul Doyle
Friday August 5, 2005


Poor old Brian Kerr. There he was, off enjoying his summer holidays and doing his best to look less like Father Jack Hackett, when news seeped through that the Republic of Ireland's next opponents have just been bolstered by the return of world class playmaker Zinedine Zidane and world class playbreaker Claude Makelele:

And now the Mill hears that, just four weeks ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Kerr's crew in Dublin, a third mature musketeer is ready to rally to the French cause: classy Juventus centreback Lilian Thuram, to be precise. Feck! Arse! Grrr!

Fortunately, rumours that Kerr will retort by persuading Tony Cascarino, Jim Beglin and Mark Lawrenson to come out of international retirement have given the psychological advantage back to the Irish.

[Donal81]

We've got a CL winning full-back in our team, one of the best wingers in the world, a top-class international goalkeeper, a partisan home crowd that will be right up for it, a goalscorer with an international record as good as Michael Owen's, and Roy Keane. I don't care what anyone says about Keane these days but from October through to March of last season Man United showed championship form and in my opinion the main reason for this was Keane. Amid all the hype & hysteria about everything Chelsea-related I think it was completely lost on most people that for most of last season Roy Keane was every bit as influential as he has ever been. I thought he was quality in the FA Cup Final.

Bring them on. Allez Les Verts.

Bang on. Let them bring back everyone from Just Fontaine to Eric Cantona, I couldn't give a toss. Let's just make sure we're up for it in Lansdowne, the team hammer into them from the start and the French won't know what's hit them.

[gustavo]

This is Brian Kerr fan no.1 Paul Doyle's take on it:

Paul Doyle
Friday August 5, 2005


Poor old Brian Kerr. There he was, off enjoying his summer holidays and doing his best to look less like Father Jack Hackett, when news seeped through that the Republic of Ireland's next opponents have just been bolstered by the return of world class playmaker Zinedine Zidane and world class playbreaker Claude Makelele:

And now the Mill hears that, just four weeks ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Kerr's crew in Dublin, a third mature musketeer is ready to rally to the French cause: classy Juventus centreback Lilian Thuram, to be precise. Feck! Arse! Grrr!

Fortunately, rumours that Kerr will retort by persuading Tony Cascarino, Jim Beglin and Mark Lawrenson to come out of international retirement have given the psychological advantage back to the Irish.
who is this gobshyte? :confused:

[Stuttgart88]

Doyle is an ex-Irish Times journo who has published at least two very critical articles in The Guardian on Kerr.

I wouldn't take too much exception to this article though. The daily "Rumour Mill" column is a very tongue-in-cheek, often quite witty, summary of the day's transfer rumours.

[sligoman]

Dont know if this has been mentioned already cos I haven't read many of the posts but Lillian Thuram is back too :(

[jbyrne]

any chance of getting Irelands "12th man" out of retirement for the french game and creating the most intimidating atmosphere ever?!! :rolleyes:

[hoopy]

An unfortunate turn of events but not for reasons that most will automatically think. Brian Kerr now has a ready made excuse when people finally wisen up to his lack of managerial talent(with grown men, that is)

[jimbob117]

Brian Kerr now has a ready made excuse when people finally wisen up to his lack of managerial talent(with grown men, that is)

Give it a break will ya and give kerr until the end of the campaign before coming out with stupid comments like that.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Well the general consensus seems to be we are sean bhean bhocht now :D

[eirebhoy]

Fabio Capello confirmed that Thuram will also return.

Zidane will be captain.

[Poor Student]

Does a return en masse of these golden oldies not signal an attitude of fear and desperation from the French camp?

[brine3]

I puts Ireland in the underdog position. We have Zidane to thank for putting our backs to the wall. Irish teams can't cope with being favourites (Macedonia, Israel etc.)

Thank you Zizou.

[Stuttgart88]

Excellent. He's gone mental. Maybe he should give Glenn Hoddle a call.

[Donal81]

Zidane or whoever, I'm going for 1-0 to us, definitely. The French were once a great team but declined into a number of extremely talented individuals, which is worthless compared to a team functioning as one. If we've our best out, I'd expect to beat them.