By Sam Poplett ⋅ June 10, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Euro 2008

Romania’s Chivu challenges France’s Benzema

When the draw was made for Group C of this summer’s European Championships there were huge gasps as France, Italy and the Netherlands were pitted against one another. That was closely followed by the remark, ‘So, Romania and who else?’ in reference to which of the four sides would be eliminated at the first hurdle.

Yesterday evening, the Romanians proved one point; that this group is by far the toughest in the tournament this summer. Likewise they acted to dismiss another myth about Group C; that the Romanians would be the whipping boys for the French, Italians and Dutch to guarantee themselves maximum points against. In reality, Romania were solid, strong and courageous against the World Cup finalists of two years ago, to suppress them into a bore 0-0 draw.

France were notably without the ever-inspirational Thierry Henry, a striker who has endured real trouble since his mega-bucks move from Arsenal to Barcelona last summer, yet a striker who, on his day, is still the very best in the world. Henry was absent with a back injury, a sustained problem he has experienced throughout his first season at the Camp Nou. Although a quick glance at the French forward line and you would be forgiven for not noticing it was slightly depleted; £15m Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and 20-year-old Lyon hotshot Karim Benzema led the line, with Bayern Munich’s £20m winger Franck Ribery and Chelsea’s £13.5m left-sided midfielder Florent Malouda on the flanks. Henry-less this attack may have been, but weak it most certaintly was not.

The Romanians combated France’s forward penetration by setting up very defence-minded, with Juventus striker Adrian Mutu dropping into midfield to make a five when his side were without the ball, which was for most of this encounter. However, Romania’s traditional two banks of four strangled the life out of the French, who could not find a way through no matter how hard they tried. The Romanians are closely linked through history to the Transylvanians, who were famed for sucking the blood out of their opponents, and the same contrast could be made in this game as the Romanians sucked the life out of Les Blues in Zurich.

France did not appear to be up for this game, perhaps with one eye on the two vital clashes with Italy and the Netherlands still to come in this group, with Anelka, Benzema and Malouda particularly disappointing. Anelka seemed to have picked up from where he left off with Chelsea, having had an indifferent time at Stamford Bridge since his January move from Bolton Wanderers. At times he appeared disinterested and lacked motivation, almost as if he were still reeling from that penalty miss in Moscow in the Champions League final almost three weeks ago. Malouda also continued his club form on this international stage; after being mooted as Chelsea’s replacement for Arjen Robben last summer, Malouda has struggled to have any impact at all on the Premier League. As for Benzema, a striker who has been linked with a host of top European clubs in the past, he frankly seemed out of his depth.

Questions must also be asked, and there is no doubt they will be by the French media over the coming days, about coach Raymond Domenech, who appeared to have anything but a Plan B to set in motion yesterday when events weren’t panning out exactly as hoped. His decision to leave Djibril Cisse, a player with 37 international caps, at home in favour of Bafetimbi Gomis, the Saint Etienne striker with only 45 minutes of international football in a warm-up friendly under his belt, appears to be a striking mistake. As does waiting until the 77th minute to bring on Samir Nasri, in a game literally crying out for a moment of innovation and brilliance. Domenech applauded his side at the final whistle, but if he was genuinely pleased with that performance he needs his head testing.

Praise must not be limited for the Romanians, however, who were bold and honest enough to admit that they’re not as technically adept as the French. Had Romania, like Turkey against Portugal on Saturday, attempted to match the French and play them at their own game, they would have been soundly beaten.

Victor Piturcá, Romania’s coach, was intelligent enough to set his side up to defend deeply, removing any space in the Romanian half that the French forwards could potentially exploit. Anelka, Malouda, Ribery and Benzema are all forwards who are most dangerous with the ball at their feet, running at defenders, and Piturcá recognised that if his side could be as compact as possible they could restrict the French in how they like to play their game. It is not a system his side are unfamiliar with, though, as they adopted similar tactics when facing the Netherlands in qualification, and are most likely to continue implementing it for the remainder of their group games. And if Piturcá’s Romania were to do the unthinkable and qualify from the ‘Group of Death’, it would surely go down as one of the all-time great efforts of international football.

With the Netherlands’ emphatically stunning 3-0 win over world champions Italy in Group C (a controversial Ruud Van Nistelrooy opener followed by strikes from Wesley Sneijder and Gio Van Bronkhorst) completing round one of proceedings in Group C, there is no doubt where the drama lies in this competition thus far. With the Netherlands next up for Les Blues, their hopes of glory this summer could be all but ended by Saturday evening, while the Italians need maximum points in their tie with Romania to keep their dreams alive. With a host of veterans such as Lilian Thuram, Claude Makelele, Marco Materazzi and Alessandro Del Piero playing what will undoubtedly be their final major tournament, could the Group of Death be the international funeral for these superstars?

Tags: Euro 2008, France, Raymond Domenech, Romania, Romania 0-0 France, Victor Piturcá

Related Articles

• Romania land Group of Death - Euro 2008 Draw
• Euro 2008: The Review
• Euro 2008: Semi-Fearless Predictions
• Euro 2008 Who’s Who - FRANCE
• Euro 2008 Round-Up