Come on it's okay to admit it, you put a few quid on France winning the European Championships...well perhaps you should just throw that slip away now!
Romania are not as bad as they have been made out to be but the fact of the matter is that Raymond Domenech's side never really looked like breaching their defence. The men from Eastern Europe set out to be defensive and try to use the pace of Adrian Mutu on the break. The second part of that plan did not work as hoped, but the first part was executed to perfection.
The selection of the clumsy Eric Abidal at left back ahead of the marauding and purposeful Patrice Evra is as close to insane as you get...only higher on that list is the decision to select the Barcelona man in the squad at all given the form of Arsenal's Gael Clichy!
How can Raymond Domenech justify selecting the abject Florent Malouda next time out? Did he do anything of note? Apart from bottling a 50-50 with the keeper of course. Jeremy Toulalan and Claude Makelele may work well together when you are trying to defend a lead and close out a quarter final, but they are not a goal threat.
Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema were the subject of much furore is the build up but both failed to impose themselves at any stage and as for Nicolas Anelka...don't even get me started!
Seemingly Arsenal-bound Samir Nasri arrived and looked busy but did not see enough of the ball in dangerous positions to create a meaningful opening.
Surely Domenech will change things ahead of the game with the Dutch!
His first decision should be to give Evra the left-back berth. Patrick Vieira will take over from Toulalan should he regain full fitness in time, but I would be tempted to include Lassana Diarra either in his place or in place of Makelele to add some much needed running and urgency to the midfield.
On the wings Domenech must find room for the inventive Nasri - with Malouda dropping out - with Ribery on the other side. In attack, Benzema must be given another chance but perhaps Anelka has played his way out of the side and it would not be a surprise if Thierry Henry returned in the front line against the Dutch.
All this may seem a little drastic but sometimes it is required and the performance of the French today needs addressing. However, Domenech has shown his fear of upsetting players in the past and don't be surprised if Abidal, Makelele, Anelka and Malouda all continue with Vieira and Henry returning to keep Toulalan, Evra, Nasri, Benzema and Diarra out.
A French revolution is needed...but don't hold or your breath, or your betting slip.
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