France look for winning formula
Friday 9 October 2009
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France coach Erick Mombaerts expects nothing less than six points from his side's forthcoming 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying double-header against Group 8 leaders Belgium and bottom-placed Malta.
Five changes
With four points from two fixtures, France are third in their section ahead of two games in the space of five days. Mombaerts has been forced to call up five new faces for tonight's trip to the Cannoniers Stadium in Mouscron, which stands just 500m from the French border. Olympique de Marseille right-back Garry Bocaly and Tottenham Hotspur FC defender Dorian Dervite have been excluded because of a lack of playing time while captain Moussa Sissoko, Yohan Thuram-Ulien and Darryl Herold Goulon also miss out.
Rare starter
Toulouse FC's Franck Tabanou and Parma FC winger Jonathan Biabiany, on loan from FC Internazionale Milano, are among those included. "The France U-21 team cannot afford to do without a regular Serie A player," Mombaerts said of Babiany, who has played six league games this term. "There are few 21-year-old wingers who have so much playing time."
Patience is a virtue
Although last month's 2-2 draw with Ukraine saw Les Bleus drop two points off the pace set by Belgium, Mombaerts is content with their progress. "The result was frustrating," he said. "But not the way we achieved it. Four points [including a 3-1 win in Slovenia] from six is a good start to the campaign. Now we face two different games. In Malta, we expect a defensive opponent that will require patience. The Belgians are a highly regarded team, who defend very well, who can steal the ball easily. We must be able to win those games."
Risk-takers
France's failure to reach the 2009 finals has had little impact on Mombaerts and technical director Gérard Houllier. "We transmit a philosophy of the game to all youth teams and make the players responsible," said Houllier. "We also aim to develop an attacking, attractive game, taking risks. But we are not romantics and want to win."
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