Your Obligatory “WTF is Ray-Ray Smoking?” Post
By: Martha | November 8th, 2007
Just like we all knew he would, Raymond Domenech gleefully left David Trezeguet out of his France team yet again. Jesus wept.
In case you’re new around here, I am not a Trezeguet fan — my feelings are actually much closer to hate than anything else, but the man can flat-out score goals. Even if he’s just standing in the goal mouth, looking for girls in the crowd, the ball will find him, and it will go in. It’s a weird law of nature, but that’s just how things work when Trezeguet is around.
But Domenech, for some reason, seems to take actual, palpable joy in leaving him out of the side. Witness, for example, his smug comments today about the possibility of Trezeguet making his way back into the team: “David is having a great start to the season with Juventus, but he’s in competition for a place. If we qualify, the Euro 2008 will be in eight months. A lot of things can happen in between. … I hope David will help Juventus win the (Italian league) title and that he will be at the Euro 2008 with us, and that he will find his form again for France.” Got that, David? Forget scoring a goal in every match — all you have to do is WIN THE SCUDETTO to get into the team! That’s nothing, right? Easy as pie. Sigh.
In good news for Serie A fans, though, Sebastian Frey is in the team. YAAAAAAAY! It’s his second-ever call-up, according to Wikipedia and, who knows, maybe he’ll even get to make an appearance in the Morocco friendly. Amazing how much difference a haircut and new hairstyle can do for a guy’s chances in his national team.* Hmm. Maybe Trezeguet should try growing his out and see what happens.
*Apparently a large part of the reason Frey cut his hair and is back to his natural black is because of things Domenech has said. No lie.
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Comments
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In totally unrelated news, another UEFA Cup goal for your boy Bobo today!
Posted from
United States
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wow this is just sad now! honestly trez scores goals, by accident, but still they go in. they may not be pretty but who gives a damn if that is the winner. hes a princess i know but he scores goals and in this sport isnt that what matters..
mr. d whatever the fuck you are smoking i would like some so put down the pipe and start sending me some of it…oh and when you get a spare sec sit your ass down and watch the juve-livorno game and tell me again princess trez doesnt deserve a spot on your team….asshole
Posted from
Canada -
I think its obvious that raymond is still upset that trez missed his penalty
Posted from
Australia -
I don’t think Domenech is caring too much since he has Henry, Anelka, Benzema, Malouda, Ribery, Govou, and Ben Arfa at his disposal. Frankly, France’s chances of qualification for Euro 2008 are just as good without Trezeguet as it is with Trezeguet. And it’s not like Domenech didn’t give him a chance - Trez played in some very important qualifiers and failed to score. So Domenech has to try out other options. He can’t wait around for Trezeguet to rediscover his scoring touch with the NT.
Trezeguet also doesn’t help his chances when he mouths off to the press every other week. None of the other regularly selected players do that.
Posted from
United States -
Also, about Mexes not being selected, it’s apparent that Domenech hasn’t made up his mind between him and Sebastien Squillaci. In an interview for L’Equipe, Domenech said that since Mexes was selected last time, this time he went with Squillaci, to maintain balance and boost competition.
Posted from
United States -
Wait, Domenach takes players hair into account when making his selections? WTF?
Posted from
Italy -
BOBO! WOO HOO! (God damn streams, not letting me watch.)
Posted from
United States -
Lisa, I’ve heard a couple different times that he told Frey his wild, frosted hair wasn’t an appropriate image, or something. This is mostly through random TV pundits, and maybe an Viola fan site so it could be wrong, but it’s certainly no unheard-of for coaches to demand the players meet certain standards in terms of grooming (though imposing them on a national team is a little harsh, since you see them once a month).
Posted from
United States -
its good to see the italians following the french call-ups so closely and even cheering when a serie a player makes it onto the team. obviously you have a lot of respect for the honor that it is to be a player for Les Bleus. ;)
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United States -
That Mexes-Squillaci comparison is a crock of shit. If he thinks those two are close to par he’s much dumber than we all believed, which is bad. All he was waiting for was Philou to screw up one time, the derby, and he’d have his justification.
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United States -
Lisa and Martha it’s not unheard of that a coach implements strict grooming guidelines. Batistuta had to deal with it when he had wanted to keep his hair long. the Argie NT coach had told him no that he looked to effeminate and that’s not the look he wanted from player’s repping the country. but later Batigol won them over and was allowed to keep his hair at any length cause the man could score goals. guess to some appearances do count.
Posted from
United States -
I don’t know Chris, you yourself said in one of your old posts that Squillaci’s style of play suited Domenech’s vision of a tactically efficient NT. Squillaci is a good player and just as worthy of a spot on the NT as Mexes, but with Lyon missing Cris and Coupet, it’s been hard on him so don’t judge him on CL highlights from this year.
Also, Mexes gets called up quite frequently for the NT. Granted he doesn’t get to play much, but Domenech isn’t going to dislodge Gallas and Thuram, and he also likes Abidal in the center as well (and it’s not like France’s defenses are falling apart at the moment).
I think the biggest reason is because Mexes gets carded so often. It’s worrisome, and the last thing Domenech wants to worry about is conceding penalties, especially when your #1 goalkeeper is out.
Posted from
United States -
Well, I used that as part of his justification for putting Squillaci in that category. I didn’t say it was right. And I have yet to see Lyon in this year’s CL, even in hghlights - apart from the Barca game, so that’s not what I’m basing it on. Every other time I’ve seen him it’s clear he’s no Philou. He’s just not a world-class defender. He’s limited.
I’d concede the card argument, only he has just two this year, one of which is one of the worst cards I’ve ever seen (someone was holding up the ball, he just stood there, guy didn’t go down and he was carded for no apparent reason). And if anything, he’s never a guy to give up penalties.
I still think the reason is Domenech is an idiot who hates Italia, and I also suspect the moment France gets a new coach Philou will be a mainstay in the starting XI.
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United States -
Chris, first of all, Mexes gets called up nearly all the time. Only twice this year he didn’t get call ups, and today is one of those. I know you want him to start for France, but Thuram and Gallas are the starters. There’s a hierarchy, and as long as those two do their jobs and don’t conceded stupid goals, there is no room for discussion. Thuram will be retiring after this summer, and then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mexes make a strong case to be a starter because Abidal and Escude can’t be full time CBs.
I agree that Squillaci isn’t world class, but he’s still good at his job and very solid. He won’t wow you but he won’t disappoint you either, and that is not a bad quality to have. I can see why Domenech would find that attractive, even if you or I don’t agree with it. It’s not about have the most world class players but having the most effective combination, and Domenech has to find out who fits better.
Also, though it’s a running joke that Domenech doesn’t select Italian players, let’s be serious for a second. Mexes is a regular call up. He just didn’t get called up this time. Big deal. I’m positive he’ll be going to Euro 2008. Frey is getting call ups, but just because Landreau is ahead of him in the pecking order doesn’t mean there’s a conspiracy. Vieira plays in Italy and he is a starter. Trezeguet not getting called up has nothing to do with Italy and everything to do with the personal relationship between him and Domenech. If Trezeguet were in England or Spain he still wouldn’t be getting call ups either. Gourcuff doesn’t play at Milan and therefore he’s not considered for the senior team. As far as I’m aware, those are the only French players in Serie A who would deserve a call up.
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United States -
On a related “Dumbenech-should-keep-his-trap-shut” story, the French “coach” made some more comments on the Italian national team. For those that may think he mellowed down, this guy has made ‘insulting someone but camouflaging it as a praise’ an art. Here’s the latest pearl.
(Talking about the upcoming Scotland-Italy match) “Italians have the quality, rigor, discipline and organization to say ‘we are stepping down on the field in order to get a draw’ and succeed in their objective. (…) Let’s be clear, this is a compliment: the French team doesn’t have that organization and discipline”. For anyone who doesn’t believe these words are meant for anything other than bringing the Azzurri bad luck, go hide in a bush and spend the Winter there.
Not outrageous enough for you? Wait till you read what he says about the Golden Ball: “I’d give it to Henry, I’ve been saying it for over a year and a half. Last year they took it away from him, and this year he even surpassed the scoring record of Michel Platini with Les Bleus, while playing and scoring in a big club. The other guy (Note: he means Kaká)? Please…”
Someone in France please do us a big favor: go to Domenech’s house with a baseball bat.
Posted from
United States -
Inara, I agree with “It’s not about have the most world class players but having the most effective combination, and Domenech has to find out who fits better”
Did Mexes get called up for WC06? I dont think he did. So I’m not so sure he will get called up for EURO08. While I think most of it is a load of bull****, I think Domenech does hold a grudge against Italy and the Italian game.
And just ‘cos Trez speaks out of turn every now and then doesn’t make him a bad player, he’s scoring the goals and thats what counts. He has said bad things about Juve before but they keep playing him without any problems.
Posted from
Australia -
patcook, a lot of players on the current roster didn’t get called up for WC06, so that doesn’t preclude their being selected for Euro2008.
Don’t get me wrong, Domenech obviously harbors no love for Italy. But he won’t hold it against a player who is in Italy. Domenech put up with a lot of Trezeguet’s moaning and still called him up for several matches earlier in the year, but I guess he just got tired of it. He’s also making sure that Trezeguet gets the message that just because he’s a great striker doesn’t mean his spot on the NT can be taken for granted because France have a lot of attacking talent and aren’t desperate for his services.
Posted from
United States -
i’m sure that half the stuff that comes out of Domenech’s mouth these days is because he knows that italians are OBSESSED with him. that comment about the discipline of the italian teams? he probably laughed himself silly after he said it!
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United States -
Jina, I get that coaches are free to set standards for their players’ grooming/appearance. I just think it’s stupid to not call a guy up for national duty because of something so trivial. It’s a football match, not a date. The criteria should be what he does on the field, not what he does with his hair.
Posted from
Italy -
Wait, I missed that part, so could Mexes’ hair actually be a factor here? Are you shitting me?
Posted from
United States -
Inara, what you said about trez is fair enough, although i still feel that if he is good enough, he is good enough and if Domenech can’t control or at least deal with the players then thats more a reflection on him than the players.
I felt Mexes should have been a shoe-in for the WC. Perhaps not a starter, but to not be in the team at all? Im one that feels Liverpools rotation hurts the team because good performances aren’t rewarded properly with extended runs in the first XI which dents confidence. I think Domenech runs the same risk by not choosing his form players, of which i think trez is one and mexes too, imho.
Posted from
Australia -
Chris, my understanding is that he actually SAID something to Frey — I’m sure we’d all know it if he’d bitched Mexes out about his hair.
Posted from
United States -
As Inara said, Trezeguet has been called up several times since World Cup and allowed to start. Most recently in the loss against Scotland. Other than two goals against Faroe Islands in 2006, he hasn’t performed. At all.
I like Trezeguet — he breaks my heart and I’d love to see him perform for the NT — but when he’s on the field he wanders around looking a bit lost and waiting for others to deliver the ball. That doesn’t fit the France style of play. Karim Benzema creates plays. If I had to choose between the two of them, I’d choose Benzema, just as Raymond did. I think even Anelka may be losing his starting position because of it, and Anelka is a proven recent NT goalscorer.
And Domenech’s words were obviously meant to fire Italy up. Italy beats Scotland, we go through. Italy draws, we need to beat Ukraine.
Posted from
United States
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