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"The Blues" have not yet been eliminated from the World Cup, but there is already a rush to find the guilty ones. The French newspaper "Le Monde" singled out three most "deserving" culprits: the pitch condition, the captain and the team's age, and finally, the refereeing.
Doubtful refereeing
On Sunday evening, after a 1:1 draw between France and South Korea, the French Thierry Henry attacked the referee for not counting the French goal in the first half. The team's coach Raymond Domenech, taking advantage of the situation, immediately mentioned the use of video assistance for referees: "The video recording would have definitely helped us this time. It's a pity that in such conditions and at such a level competition, referees cannot use all possible means and officiate without any risk."
Thierry Henry was not so calmly disposed: "It would be good if referees were more competent. They can really quickly give out yellow cards. I saw the images - the ball crossed the line. If the referee had counted this goal, instead of giving strange cards and evaluating us with free kicks, we would have been ahead 2-0 after just twenty minutes, and it wouldn't have been the same game. We defended well, we created chances, but again: the referee missed it, didn't see it. These little things are significant. At a certain moment these little things were in our favor, but now no longer," - concluded the French attacking player.
Zinedine Zidane also confirmed seeing the ball cross the line, as he was near the goal line: "It spoils the game."
Patrick Vieira did not want to criticize the referee: "I cannot say that the referee is incompetent, it is part of the game. At a score of 1-0, you are never sure that the opponents will not equalize."
Pitch condition
The French coach R. Domenech was very angry that the pitch in Stuttgart was not watered before the match between the French and the Swiss, claiming that dry pitch gives advantages to defenders against attackers. "The ball was rolling hard and it showed in the shots. The attackers could not control the ball and it often got stuck," Domenech said after the match, as did the Dutch after the matches with Serbia and Montenegro.
Captain's age
The French team, whose average age yesterday was 30 years and 289 days, is the third oldest team by age to have competed in the World Cup, after the Germans and Belgians in 1998. It is also the oldest "Blue" team in history. When the 23-year-old Franck Ribery was replaced by the three years older Florent Malouda (the only substitution in the two matches), the average age increased even more. The oldest player on the field was Fabien Barthez (34 years 355 days), and the youngest was Florent Malouda, celebrating his 26th birthday on Tuesday. "At least I am not the oldest coach of all time," R. Domenech jokingly said on Saturday. "It is not a criterion for me. It could be like that if the matches were played one after another, when you can be a little "worn out". Age and experience, when needed, compensate for that," added the coach.
The newspaper "L'Equipe" calculated if France has chances to qualify for the round of 16. Yes, if they beat Togo by two goals. Yes, if they beat Togo by a one-goal margin and if Switzerland doesn't beat them today. Yes, if they draw with Togo and if Togo draws with Switzerland and South Korea, scoring at least one goal less than the French. For now, not all is lost for the "Blues".
