Having played 38 times this season for Barcelona and picked up a second consecutive La Liga title, and a Champions League medal (having scored a cracker in the semis) Ludovic Giuly has not been included in the France squad. Very odd.
As far as i can find, Giuly has no history of attitude problems, or clashes with international managers (which often end French player's international careers). He might not have been a regular in the Barca team this year, but has chipped in with 6 goals, including the afformentioned screamer in the semis of the Champions League. In any case, being edged out of the starting line up by Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi is not something to be ashamed of.
The argument seems to be that Frank Ribery was picked ahead of him, which would be fair enough if it was one of the two, as Ribery has had a great season and is one of the hottest properties in Europe. However, there are at least three players in the squad who Giuly could have replaced that are not Frank Ribery, but play in similar positions. Florent Malouda has had a good season at Lyon, but lets face it, the French League cannot compare to La Liga. Vikash Dhorasoo hasn't scored a single goal all year, whilst playing for a PSG side that finished 9th. And thene there's Djibril Cisse, who is shit, and really annoying as well.
I suspect there is something we are not being told. Or maybe Raymond Domenech has decided to 'do a Walcott' and have a bit of a laugh with his squad. Who knows.
2 comments:
Ah Benji, the intricacies of French football do not escape the brutality of politics. Raymond Domenech is notorious in France for dropping experienced players only to be replaced by 'les espoirs' (lit. the hopefuls). Robert Pires famously fell out with Domenech last year after being dropped. In France, few stars still play in La Ligue, so when a youngster like Ribery has a top season at Marseille, who incidentally have been a pile of poo this season, there's no leaving him out. The French footie press are as manipulative as the British and Domenech is seen as a pretty weak character over there. A player like Malouda gets in ahead of Guily simply because he's naturally left-sided, and well, nobody else in the squad is! (Sound familiar?) As for the Djibbers Cisse, who knows how he manages it, but they absolutely love him in France! No joke, they reckon he's the shit... The truth is, he was the shit at Auxerre, but then I could probably get a couple against Guingamp, Le Havre and Nancy!
As for Ludo Giuly, in my humble opinion, he's not actually that good. Granted he's got bags of pace, but I don't reckon much else. Also, for the last few months, he's been shouting his mouth off about how he's best mates with Henry and how big TH is definitely heading to the Nou Camp having fallen out with everyone and their mother at Arsenal... Well all I can say is HA HA HA. Justice. Gutted Ludo, have fun canoeing this summer, cos no one gives a cow's arse what u think.
Thanks for letting me rant!
one love,
Jonny
ps. The Argies are the ones you wanna write a piece on... the nutty gaffer's dropped Veron, Gonzalez and bloody Javier Zanetti! Mental.
Looved reading this thanks
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