Schadenfreude, that wonderfully efficient word to describe taking joy in others misfortune was bounded around many a water-cooler or deli-stand this morning. Perhaps not the German form more of an Irish version of Nelson's "Ha Ha!". It is difficult analysing the French from an Irish perspective. The hand of Gaul has joined Saipan in our hellish lexicon and colours any neutral view of them. But there could be no arguing about their defeat to Mexico on Thursday night.
Eccentric would be a mild and frankly bland description of their coach Raymond Domenech. A man known to favour players based on the star signs conjures up team and tactics seemingly based on the paranormal. The decision to go with Nicholas Anelka as a lone striker was baffling. Anelka has been in fine form for Chelsea for the best part of eighteen months now but to use him on his own completely miss-reads him as a player and wastes his talent. Anelka is not the man on the shoulder as he was in his Arsenal days. He now drifts into space, often in midfield, turns and begins to prompt moves.
When he did this on Thursday. France were left playing with a 4-6-0 formation, something pioneered by Luciano Spalletti at Roma and copied by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. There Totti or Rooney would drop as Anelka did but whereas Roma had Mancini and United Ronaldo to burst into the space vacated by the striker, France had no-one. Govou and Malouda stuck rigidly to the sidelines while Franck Ribery was marooned in midfield.
Domenech had already been castigated for his squad selection but the one he had picked had enough quality to emerge from a gentle group. His demeanour on the sideline, leaning on the dugout unwilling or unable to change the outcome said it all.His improbable run to the final four years ago was instigated by Zinedene Zidane. In the four matches in international competition since France have failed to win, football's version of the gallows awaits. Try and not laugh.
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