Yoann Gourcuff

[Siemgi]

I know. I just think it's weird because there are players he's grown attached too (A. Diarra, Gourcuff & Planus, namely, and Carrasso although he had already forfeited, so he didn't really strike). But I'm all for him selecting a batch of new young players.

[azezah]

it is so sad. i was very into the mood of watching bb lashes for the next france game with norway(friendly). seems like i have to wait though.

[Siemgi]

New pics

[FashionDream]

Wow he is so gorgeous

[stillinwonderland]

[footballfan#7]

Thanks for the pics. Yoann is just beautiful

I showed my mom his photo and her first reaction to was to grab my laptop out of my hands to get a closer look and then she wasn't able to say anything but "wow" for awhile. It was a priceless moment and shows you the effect Yoann has on women of all ages. lol!

[Lyon]

^ hahaha Who wouldn't wow for Yoann

[stillinwonderland]

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[stillinwonderland]

So, I guess it's officially official now.

France coach Blanc drops all 23 World Cup players + comments from Lloris

France coach Laurent Blanc will drop all 23 World Cup players for his first match next month as collective punishment for the team's embarrassing fiasco in South Africa.

The French federation said Friday in a statement it had granted Blanc permission to suspend the players at the coach's request.

France was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup, failing to win a game. The players also refused to train as a protest after Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home following an expletive-laced tirade at then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Blanc refused to speak to reporters when he left the federation's headquarters Friday.

France plays a friendly against Norway on Aug. 11 in Oslo, and Blanc is set to announce his squad Aug. 5.

France's disappointing performance in South Africa came after the team failed to win a game at the 2008 European Championship, also under Domenech.

The French team endured days of chaos at the World Cup after L'Equipe newspaper published a rant by Anelka aimed toward Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 loss against Mexico, prompting the French federation to send him home.

The next day, the entire squad refused to train in protest and captain Patrice Evra had a lively altercation with the team's fitness coach that was captured on TV.

The events caused an outcry in France, with politicians harshly criticizing the players' attitude, legislators in parliament questioning the coach and even President Nicolas Sarkozy weighing in on the mess.

Earlier Friday, France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris criticized the squad for being "totally stupid" for going on strike and said he is desperate to "restore the image" that was so badly damaged in South Africa.

"Going on strike was the decision of a group that felt isolated, that felt no one had protected it, and that wanted to get a message across," Lloris said in an interview with L'Equipe. "We went way too far. It was a clumsy decision, a big mistake. It was totally stupid."

Lloris, who has 14 international appearances and is expected to stay the No. 1 goalkeeper, accepts the players have an obligation "to make sure what happened in South Africa never happens again, that we don't self-destruct in that way ever again."

"We acted more like a team in the bus than on the pitch," the 23-year-old Lloris said.

"We all want to restore the image of Les Bleus. I'm not asking for us to win everything, just that we all make an effort, that we give everything," he added. "We need to get back to basics, respect for the jersey, for ourselves, our teammates and the institution that is the France team."

Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes handed in his resignation earlier this month and the federal council unanimously appointed Fernand Duchaussoy as caretaker president Friday.

Duchaussoy said earlier this week it would be difficult for Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema to play for France after both players were issued the preliminary charges for their alleged involvement in a sex scandal with an underage prostitute.

Duchaussoy moderated his position Friday, saying any decision would have to be made in accordance with Blanc's views on the matter, and that sometimes decisions must be made that go "against one's personal convictions."

[azezah]

well seems like everyone went for the strike. not like the reports that came out which said the some players were forced. but then again what was the sports minister ranting about.

[stillinwonderland]

.

[Siemgi]

I think they shouldn't be punished for striking. Striking is a right. However, they clearly should be punished for failing so miserably.

[stillinwonderland]

I don't think this is punishment for the strike, even though the article says so, because I definitely remember hearing Blanc say that the players that organized the strike would be given clean slates. I think it's mainly for him to show his authority to the players and basically tell them that, if they act up, he has no problem cutting them.

[stillinwonderland]

:evil:

[Lyon]

olala

[Siemgi]

I don't think this is punishment for the strike, even though the article says so, because I definitely remember hearing Blanc say that the players that organized the strike would be given clean slates. I think it's mainly for him to show his authority to the players and basically tell them that, if they act up, he has no problem cutting them.

I know. I just don't like the way it's translated in the press. Just like I didn't like that "muslims are evil" vibe that we got during the World Cup because of Ribéry's and Anelka's treatment in the press.

But hopefully, that's all in the past and we're just gonna get a lot of hot Yoann from this point forward (except against Norway, but that's okay, bacuse his thigh is still in a bad shape, so I think it's better if he doesn't play too much).

On a side note, he's been suspended for 2 games because of the elbowing. WTF?

[stillinwonderland]

On a side note, he's been suspended for 2 games because of the elbowing. WTF?

Yeah, it's his punishment from FIFA for his red card. I don't think it applies for friendlies though.

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[stillinwonderland]

Gourcuff senior speaking of his boy's troubles in the NT:

"On the field, he was unwell. I saw it and he told me so. He wasn't solicited. At first, I didn't believe it, but I had to come around. In the last game, I told him to go look for the ball very low. Certainly too low. But it was the only way for him to exist, otherwise he was dead." explains in France Football FC Lorient's coach.

Christian Gourcuff rules out the existence of altercations with other members of the team. "According to Yoann, there wasn't a clash really. Everything was left unsaid. It's worse, because there is no straight explanation. You hear stuff, you want a confirmation but the speaker wriggles out of it."

"At first, you don't see him as a rival. It's only afterwards that the players start to fear for their starting places."

Since his come back in France, Yoann Gourcuff has always refused to talk to the media. "The pleasure of the ball comes back" says his sad "In him, it's a sign. It's always through the game that a player recharges his batteries." Yoann Gourcuff has for that matter followed a training session with Lorient's players.

I'm not sure if this has already been posted here.

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[Siemgi]

On a side note, he's been suspended for 2 games because of the elbowing. WTF?

Yeah, it's his punishment from FIFA for his red card. I don't think it applies for friendlies though.

It's just so undeserved. And yeah, doesn't apply for the friendlies.

[stillinwonderland]

Probably my new (first) French NT OTP...