France vs Spain: International Match Preview, Squad Sheet, Men to Watch, Prediction

 

            

                 

               VERSUS

After an "impossible" draw against lowly Finland, Vicente Del Bosque had to face huge amount of criticism for his tactics. Is Spain completely becoming Barcelona? If so, then they will face the same problems Barcelona have been facing. Breaking down oppositions who sit back and defend hard and save themselves on the counter attack. On the other hand, France are looking to capitalize and make up a decent team for next year's world cup. Both teams have a point to prove and anything less than a good showing would be a huge disappointment for them.

France Squad

 

Hugo Lloris(Spurs), Steve Mandanda(Marseille), Patrice Evra(Manchester United), Gael Clichy(Manchester City), Rod Fanni(Marseille), Mammado Sakho(PSG), Christoper Jallet (PSG), Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal), Yanga Mbiwa(Newcastle), Raphael Varane(Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Mossa Sissoko (Newcastle), Blaise Matuidi (PSG) , Maximie Gonalons (Lyon), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Jeremy Menez (PSG), Loic Remy (QPR), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Bafatembi Gomis (Lyon)

PROBABLE LINE-UP

 Lloris, Clichy, Sakho, Varane, Jallet, Cabaye, Sissoko, Ribery, Valbuena, Benzema, Giroud

Men To Watch

Franck Ribery

The explosive winger, one of the finest of this generation is the real big name in the current French setup. Alongside Benzema he is the only one who has regularly featured for top notch clubs around Europe and has had plenty of success. A lot will depend upon how he plays, and dictates the pace of the game. He is a wonderful asset to have and gives a lot. With Giroud up front, he will enjoy quite a lot of success like he did last time France played and will be a constant threat on the counter. For Spain, they have to contain him, because as we saw against Finland, when defending counter attacks, Spain are vulnerable, and if they conceded against the pace of Finland, one can tell how lethal a Franck Ribery can be!


Raphael Varane

The young Los Blancos Center Back has made quite a name for himself in his recent matches against the Catalans. Almost nullifying the effect of Lionel Messi, he has earned accolades like no other defender has earned over the past few years at his age. He is pumped up and he will be looking to impress even further against the reigning World Champions.

 

 

 

Spain Squad

 

Pepe Raina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos(Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barca), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barca), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Xavi (Barca), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barca), Cesc Fabregas (Barca), David Silva (Manchester City), Sergio Busqets (Barca), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Isco (Malaga), Javi Garcia (Manchester City), David Villa (Barcelona), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Pedro Rodriguez (Barca)

PROBABLE LINE UP

Valdes, Pique, Ramos, Alba, Arbeloa, Silva, Busqets, Alonso, Iniesta, Mata, Villa.

Men To Watch

Juan Mata

 He came in the dying minutes for Spain and looked a real menace. If it was not for the profligacy of Alvaro Negredo in front of goal. Spain could have scored more goals in their previous encounter. He is in form and he wants to stamp his name in to this side for good. So, this is the perfect time to give him a high-profile game and he will surely provide Spain with that directness and ability that they lacked against Finland.





David Silva

 
Another one who will be looking to make his move, he looked good against Finland and he will be looking to keep the surge going. He has had a slow start to the season, but now he is looking to finish it on a high. This game provides him with an opportunity to keep the flair going, and in behind Villa and alongside Mata he will find more comfort as he has played with them both in his Valencia days.

FORM

HEAD TO HEAD

SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
SPAIN 2-0 FRANCE
SPAIN 2-0 FRANCE
SPAIN 1-0 FRANCE
SPAIN 1-3 FRANCE

LAST FIVE GAMES

     
             FRANCE                                                    SPAIN
FRANCE 3 - 1 Georgia                                SPAIN  1 - 1 Finland
FRANCE 1 - 2 Germany                              SPAIN  3 - 1 Uruguay
FRANCE 2 - 1 Italy                                     SPAIN  5 - 1 Panama
FRANCE 1 - 1 Spain                                   SPAIN  1 - 1 France
FRANCE 0 - 0 Japan                                   SPAIN  4 - 0 Belarus

PREDICTION

Spain 2-2 France

Spain look vulnerable and France look hungry. This means we will be in for a treat when these two teams meet in Paris. Both have enough armory to score in this one, but both sides defense looks weak. A draw will be a fair result, but for either one to edge out the other, one has to play exceptionally well, or in other case has to play very poorly. With no real Center Forward in Spain's line up and no real pace in midfield for France, this is set up to be a real tactical battle between two veteran coaches.