Spain did the world of football a favour tonight by knocking out boring, overrated France, who put in yet another turgid, passionless Euro 2012 performance. Spain's first goal typified the worrying lack of desire running through Laurent Blanc's team, and after the game, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher could barely hide his disgust at the laziness of Chelsea star Florent Malouda.
In the build up to Spain's first goal, Malouda was just strolling around the centre of pitch, completeley oblivious to Xabi Alonso around behind him.
Then, as play progressed down France's left flank, Alonso ran into the box, and Malouda made no attempt to follow him, and the Spaniard ended up scoring with a free header. Watch the slow-mo replay below:
Xabi Alonso Goal vs France Euro 2012 23-06-12 by kofiswag
Analysing the game for ITV, a clearly irritated Carragher scathed:
"The thing that summed up France for me was Malouda's reaction for Spain's goal.
"It game of this magnitude, his reaction was disgraceful. You've got to show something, but there was no hunger or desire"
It's hard to disagree with that assessment. Malouda displayed all the urgency of a pensioner taking a Sunday morning stroll in the park, and I imagine he'll be on the receiving end of some fierce criticism tomorrow from the French press.
Thank God France are out though; watching them play was pure torture. So many overrated players, and the Bayern Munich failure curse (aka the Ribery-Robben effect) has now derailed both France and Holland.
And don't get me started on Karim Benzema - what a massive disappointment. I was under the misapprehension that he's a striker, but he spent the entire tournament playing outside the penalty box. Get in the fecking box already! What was the point in having Benzema play so deep? If it was a tactical decision, it failed miserably.
Jaimie Kanwar
In the build up to Spain's first goal, Malouda was just strolling around the centre of pitch, completeley oblivious to Xabi Alonso around behind him.
Then, as play progressed down France's left flank, Alonso ran into the box, and Malouda made no attempt to follow him, and the Spaniard ended up scoring with a free header. Watch the slow-mo replay below:
Xabi Alonso Goal vs France Euro 2012 23-06-12 by kofiswag
Analysing the game for ITV, a clearly irritated Carragher scathed:
"The thing that summed up France for me was Malouda's reaction for Spain's goal.
"It game of this magnitude, his reaction was disgraceful. You've got to show something, but there was no hunger or desire"
It's hard to disagree with that assessment. Malouda displayed all the urgency of a pensioner taking a Sunday morning stroll in the park, and I imagine he'll be on the receiving end of some fierce criticism tomorrow from the French press.
Thank God France are out though; watching them play was pure torture. So many overrated players, and the Bayern Munich failure curse (aka the Ribery-Robben effect) has now derailed both France and Holland.
And don't get me started on Karim Benzema - what a massive disappointment. I was under the misapprehension that he's a striker, but he spent the entire tournament playing outside the penalty box. Get in the fecking box already! What was the point in having Benzema play so deep? If it was a tactical decision, it failed miserably.
Jaimie Kanwar
Chelsea fan here. More than fair.
ReplyDeleteFirst time I watched some of French players closely on this tournament,and I can say that Rami is very nice CB. Strong and quick,he can play for any big team. M'Villa is another,such a quality player. Only worry for me is that he maybe "not have legs for profesional footy" Although he is powerful,often looks vulnerable,injurious. No doubt he will be one of the best DMs in the game.
ReplyDeletethe french looked like they'd rather be on holidays.a very poor game.
ReplyDeletealonso had a decent game,makes you wish he was still at anfield
Why does anybody bother with this site ?
ReplyDeleteNothing is produced, written, created, just Jamie feeling important by twisting headlines to make people view the website.
Aimless drivel and sad pathetic Jamie has to have Big Arnie as his icon.
To the author of this piece . . . have a go at the footballers in a football match, but please, for the sake of fairness to all people of whatever age, please don't malign pensioners. Ian Callaghan and his ilk are as fit as a flea. Please revise your thinking . . . age-ism is as bad as race-ism. Phil.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carra. Even on ESPN, here in the Western side of the Atlantic, Michael Ballack and Alexi Lallas were equally as scathing. When I saw Xabi that free for the header, my first thought was "who screwed up there?"
ReplyDeletespot on carra. him and keane say it how they see it, right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteknow chelsea fans who have slammed him for the same attitude at there club, hence why hes a bench warmer these days. in it for the money, nothing else
Like if you still miss Alonso.
ReplyDeleteFrench supporter here, Malouda is a piece of s***, and it's not the first game he's been absent, and I really hope the french press does not let him off the hook, his lack of passion was simply criminal, it was really 12 against 10 at this point, I hope he never wears the french jersey again, that punk mother*****.
ReplyDeleteI am a Liverpool fan and dearly hope that laurent blanc gets the manure job when whiskeynose calls it a day
ReplyDeletelol something about 'that punk mother******' made me laugh
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you can refer to a non-caucasian French'person' as "a piece of s***", even if you are French yourself.
ReplyDeleteThat oaf from North Wales got a ban for that type of thing....
Tricky subject, but if he is likening his playing to that of excrement, then that is fine. If he stated he were to look like excrement, that is a different matter.
ReplyDeleteBut let's nip this in the bud here. No need to drag through this issue again at the moment.
Jim G, why mention race or colour, has nothing to do with anything, just about a certain players lack of motivation, nothing else.
ReplyDeleteNicky,
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing but I never said it...I thought keep thinking it and it will happen now you've gone public it wont happen dam you *raises clenched fist and looks up to the sky*.....LOL
It's Ironic,
ReplyDeleteCarragher the man who bellowed at Arbeloa, whose regularly turned for speed, has scored more own goals for us than against opposition talks about Malouda.
I can bare this man for a number or reasons which are not germane to this , but I hope Carragher get frozen out the team next season.
Any ambition he had about being Liverpool Manager have gone for a very very long time as we have Brendan Rogers whose 5 years older than him.
So Carragher will do his undermining routine again and get booted out the club if I'm lucky.
Get a life !
ReplyDeletecarra there you go again,bow out gracefully, i dont see you playing post season unless you count the upcoming U.S vacation this summer.As far as "in it for the money" HELLO..OH" Roy of the Rovers is long gone.Get used to it.
ReplyDeleteThat moment of stupidity and laziness from Malouda summed up the disunited way of playing that team has shown. Like Holland, they aren't a 'team'. They both have some fundamental issues at the moment with their mentality. No amount of tactics could legislate for poor defensive indiscipline and mentality.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't having a go at pensioners. He was comparing the way malouda played with the way a pensioner would take a slow care free stroll in the park. It was an effective, non-offensive metaphor.
ReplyDeleteYour sensationalist headlines are as boring as the articles you post.
ReplyDeleteThis website is utter shite.
What's with the harsh words about Carragher, I agree that his playing career at anfield is coming to an end but the guy is a legend for what he has done at the club!
ReplyDeleteSounds like stereotyping to me, but that isn't offensive either...
ReplyDeleteTo show how anybody with a chip on their shoulder can easily 'misconstrue' an innocent remark purely to suit their own skewed agenda.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to be ironic, and obviously failed miserably.I know: I'm bitter, and I've got to let it go.Sorry.
Carra's probably right on this one. I'm just glad we didn't get Blanc as manager. What's the point in losing without demonstrating you have a right to be on the same pitch?
ReplyDeleteIt did however make me laugh when Carra Critisced England for defending too deep the other night. Really Carra? Every time Carra plays for us we defend the 6 yard box.
I second that
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, screaming at Arbeloa and where is Arbaloa now???
ReplyDeletegreat club great country!!! enough said oh and by the way he was instrumental in getting Rafa the boot and look at Rafa`s signings now playing in the Spanish team, makes my bllod boil and we wonder why we are in the doldrums!! just hope BR is as good as RB
YNWA
Miki Roque RIP
ReplyDeleteScathing attack....bit OTT
ReplyDeleteLoL !
ReplyDeleteGet yer hand bag & join in the fun !
Lemme see now ,
ReplyDeleteCarra criticizes an over hyped overpaid inconsistent French player & the question is what ?
Is the criticism fair ?
Well seeing as Carra is from Indo European origin , living in a region of Europe he & his family were born & bred in & fought & died for Id have to say that it must be a rhetorical question .