Nasri Doesn't Cut It For France. Big Mistake?

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is not on the 23-player list to play the 2014 World Cup with France. After missing out on the 2010 competition, Nasri is set to miss out once again! 

Nasri, 26, had a great season with Manchester City, winning the English Premier League title. He scored 11 goals in 46 games. He played a major role in the winning season, scoring important goals and delivering many assists. But that is apparently not enough for France coach Didier Deschamps. 

Nasri knew that he wasn't going to play the World Cup as he explained a few days ago to British reporters.

"I respect his choices. He makes his choices, that's the way it is," Nasri said Sunday about Deschamps. "I'll go on holiday and watch the World Cup on TV."

In my opinion Nasri would have been a great addition to the French squad. He brings something else to the game with his vision and great passing ability. He is a great player and would have been a better choice than Loic Remy who was selected by Deschamps. 

It seems Nasri knows that too as he believes that being a starter in his club should be a sign that he is a great player. 

"If it's not enough to be a starter in a club like Manchester City and win two titles (in two years) then it's too bad for me," Nasri said. 

Nasri pays his bad character and bad temper he showed after France's breakdown in Ukraine (0-2). Deschamps and him always had a difficult relationship, but according to Nasri, that should not be a problem as long as you are performing on the pitch, and I agree! 

"I don't have much to reproach myself with. I had one bad game in Ukraine, just like most of my teammates. Everything else is false excuses. I had played in many clubs and I never had any problems on or off the pitch. Now, you can't be friends with 23 players in a squad. That's the way it is." 

Do you think, like me, that Nasri should have been on the team for the World Cup? 

(Keep in mind that Nasri is on the extended list of 30 players and could still make it if one midfielder or attacker gets injured.)         

  

Cabaye Sign To PSG; Major Blow For Newcastle?

It's official! French midfielder Yohan Cabaye signed for the 2013 Ligue1 champions Paris St. Germain. The club was interested in Newcastle's player for a while and after one £17 million offer that Newcastle turned down, PSG got what they were looking for with a second offer around £20 million pound.

English press are still late tonight, saying that Cabaye is simply "on brink" of joining PSG. However, French newspaper L'Equipe made it official, saying "Cabaye in Paris, it's done!"

Cabaye joins PSG and reconnects with his former coach with France, Laurent Blanc. One question remains: Whose player is going to lose his spot to allow Cabaye to play?

PSG midfield is becoming one of the bests in Europe with Matuidi, Veratti and Motta. If you doubt it, just watch PSG play in the Champions League. So what is going to happen when you add a star player like Cabaye in the mix? It's a chinese puzzle that Laurent Blanc will have to fix!

This transfer could be a major blow for Newcastle when you know the impact Cabaye has on the field for the Magpies. The French player has been outstanding so far this season, helping his team staying in eighth place, only seven points behind Liverpool, fourth.

Will the Magpies survive Cabaye's departure? Will the other French players feel lonely without their leader? Newcastle coach Alan Pardew did admit that it would be really hard to keep Cabaye at the club. He was right!

The coach loses there one of his star players, one of his "captains" and leaders. Pardew knew that he did not have a saying in Cabaye's transfer and had to simply accept the outcome, good or bad.

But Magpies fans should not worry! The club is already looking for a replacement. Indeed, the club is on the verge of signing, on loan, Borussia Munchengladbach rising star Luuk de Jong. The 23-year is traveling to Newcastle for a medical exam and a possible loan deal today.

Another target is France and Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier. The 23-year old is one of the best players in Ligue1 and could be consider as the future Cabaye. Same profile, same style, Grenier would be a perfect fit to replace Cabaye.

Let's hope Newcastle finds a new player before the end of the transfer window. And who knows? Maybe a new Frenchie will join the Premier League!

World Cup Draw: Group F, The Group Of Death

The FIFA 2014 World Cup Draw was held today in Brazil with managers of all 32 teams waiting to see their fate. 

If some teams seem lucky after the draw, such as France or Argentina, others will face a much tougher opposition. Here is an overview of the groups and their consequences.

Group A:

1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Mexico
4. Cameroon

Not such an easy group for the host with promising teams like Croatia and Mexico. Cameroon can also pull through as African teams are always tough to beat. 

Players to follow: Neymar (Brazil), Modric (Croatia), Javier Hernandez (Mexico) and Eto'o (Cameroon).  

Group B:

1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Chile
4. Australia

An incredible opening game in this group as both finalists of the previous edition will face each other. Spain will want to grab a fourth international title in a row, a first in football history. Netherlands will want to take their revenge from the defeat in the 2010 World Cup Final. Chile could find a way with interesting players such as Sanchez (Barcelona) and Vidal (Juventus). As for Australia, it's hard to see them win a single game -or even a single point- in this group.

Players to follow: Xavi(33) and Iniesta (29) (Spain), as the magic duo might be playing their last world cup, especially Xavi. Robben (Netherlands), Vidal (Chile), Tim Cahill (Australia).

Group C:

1. Colombia
2. Greece
3. Ivory Coast
4. Japan

Probably the most open group as all four teams look to be even. Ivory Coast might be the favorite, lead by players such as Drogba, Kalou and Gervinho. Greece, who qualified in the playoffs against Romania, is a strong team defensively, only conceding four goals in 12 games in the qualifying stage. The South American side of the group, Colombia, will be a threat offensively with Radamel Falcao, flanked by young, but promising players like Muriel (22, or Quintero (20). Finally, Japan will count on their main player, Deisuke Honda,  to get out of the group stage. 

Players to follow: Drogba (Ivory Coast), Mitroglou (Greece), Quintero (Colombia) and Honda (Japan).

Group D:

1. Uruguay
2. Costa Rica
3. England
4. Italy

An interesting group with three major teams (Uruguay, England and Italy) and a promising Costa Rican side. England won't have an easy task ahead and the rest of the competition will be shaped by the first game against Italy. Uruguay is always a difficult team to beat and this generation of players is probably the best ever for the South Americans with stars like Suarez, Cavani, Ramirez and the experienced Forlan. Italy will want to play as well as they did during the Euro 2012 and will count on their maestro Andrea Pirlo and their defensive master Buffon, who will play their last world cup. Costa Rica is a fairly unknown side, but might be able to create a few surprises.

Players to follow: Suarez (Uruguay), Rooney (England), Pirlo (Italy) and Campbell (Costa Rica)

Group E:

1. Switzerland
2. Ecuador
3. France
4. Honduras

Lucky France you might say! This group seems to be the easiest one France could have ended up with. Fairly inexperienced teams, for the exception of Switzerland which always plays great football during international competitions. However, France should not believe they are already through as history showed that easy group stages not necessarily mean qualifications. Editions of 2002 and 2010 are proofs for Les Bleus. 

Players to watch: Seferovic (Switzerland), Ribery (France), Costly (Honduras) and Valencia (Ecuador).

Group F:

1. Argentina
2. Bosnia
3. Iran
4. Nigeria

Surely Argentina should finish top of the group with Messi carrying the team or even resting for the rest of the competition. Bosnia plays his first world cup ever and will like to show the world that they did not qualify because of pure chance. Iran will play his fourth world cup in Brazil with an aging group of players (average of 28 year-old). We all know Nigeria has what it takes to pull through this one with players like Obi Mikel, Moses or Enyeama. 

Players to follow: Messi (Argentina), Pjanic (Bosnia), Enyeama (Nigeria) and Nekounam (Iran).

Group G:

1. Germany
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. USA 

The group of death! Hard to tell which team will finish in first place, even if Germany seems to be favorite, followed by Portugal. However, USA and Ghana are always surprising sides and could give some trouble to the two favorites. Germany and Portugal will be a massive opening game and the winner of this one will take a major option in the clutching of the first place. Germany's golden generation will want to shine in Brazil, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be, once again, the main attraction of Portugal and will want to finally win the world cup! Also, keep an eye on the Boatengs' duel (Germany-Ghana).

Players to follow: Gotze (Germany), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Boateng (Ghana) and Donovan (USA).

Group H:

1. Belgium
2. Algeria
3. Russia
4. South Korea

Once again, an open group with all four teams that could manage to qualify. Favorites are Belgium with a wonderful group of players such as Hazard, Fellaini, Kompany, Benteke or Courtois. Algeria is the only team from North Africa and will want to make a good impression. Russia is always a strong side with a local league growing stronger on the European landscape with teams like Zenith and CSKA Moscow. South Korea has been struggling since their great campaign at home in 2002. They will like to get back in the top and this group is the opportunity to do so. 

Players to follow: Hazard (Belgium), Belfodil (Algeria), Akinfeev (Russia) and Lee Chung-Yong (South Korea).

The opening ceremony of the 2014 World Cup will take place in June, 12, in Sao Paulo, followed by the first game between the host, Brazil, and Croatia. 

Give your predictions!     

Gomis close to Newcastle Utd

Newcastle United and Lyon Olympic are close to an agreement for the £8.7 million deal for French striker Bafetimbi Gomis to join the Magpies.

Gomis, 27, was fighting to stay with the seven-time France champions, but the club had no intention in keeping him on the squad, so he looked for an exit door. The player has not practiced once with the professional team this summer.

Newcastle United has a strong interest in the French Ligue1, with most of the squad’s players coming from France (Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Yanga-M’Biwa or Moussa Sissoko). So far, the club is composed of 10 French players out of 35. The club looks more and more like the old fashioned Arsenal FC with the French touch. But would Gomis be a good addition to the Magpies? Would he fit in the English Premier League?

For those who don’t know him, Gomis is an athletic, strong player, just like his French compatriot Olivier Giroud. He doesn’t have great technical skills and is not the fastest player alive, but he is a goal scorer. He reads the game well and knows how to put himself in scoring position. However, he is not a consistent player and has trouble keeping up his good form in the long term.

With Lyon, Gomis scored 50 goals in 141 appearances. Bafetimbi Gomis also played for the French national team, scoring three times in 10 games.

France, the New Eldorado

This could be the biggest transfer of the summer. Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, 26, just signed a five-year contract with Paris St-Germain. The French team, which won the championship last season, spent 64 million euros to acquire Serie A’s best goal-scorer last season.

The Uruguayan was the attraction of the summer after scoring 29 goals in 34 games with Napoli. Targeted by big teams such as Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, The Matador--as we call him--decided to move to France.

What might have been considered a strange move two years ago is now an understandable choice. Cavani simply follows the path of many great players who have joined the French Ligue1 in the past two years. Players like Pastore, Menez, Thiago Silva, Ibrahimovic, and Lucas Moura brought their fame and fanbase to the league when they joined Paris last season or the season before. And now, Cavani, Falcao, James Rodriguez, and Joao Moutinho have followed them into France for a new challenge.

Certainly, only two clubs in France have the money to attract stars (Paris and Monaco) and we can’t deny the fact that players are also—if not only— attracted by big paychecks. But again, those players could have gone to big teams and would have had the same big salary they have in France. Most of those players have been attracted by long-term projects, as Cavani explained.

 “I never hesitated to come here when I saw the trust the club put in me,” Cavani said during the official press conference. “This project is very ambitious, very motivating. They are among the top clubs in the world. They are among the few that can win the Champions League.”

Monaco’s new striker Falcao said on Twitter that he was “eager to start this challenge.”

And more players could join them before the end of the transfer window. PSG is still interested in signing Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo! Monaca has an eye on Coentrao, David Luiz, Samir Nasri, Nani, Hulk and many more.

One thing is certain: the whole world of football will be watching France in August now that three of the best strikers of the past season (Ibrahimovic, 30 goals; Cavani, 29 goals; Falcao, 28 goals) are all together in the same championship.  

Retour sur les transferts marquants de l'hiver

Le marche des transfert a fermé ses portes le Mardi 31 Janvier a minuit et il n'a pas été aussi vivant qu'on ne l’espérait. 

En ligue1, le Paris st germain a été (ou presque) le seul acteur avec trois achats et une vente. Les parisiens enregistrent l’arrivée de deux brésiliens, le défenseur Alex, en provenance de Chelsea, et le milieu de terrain Maxwell, venu du Barca, et enfin l'italo-bresilien de l'Inter Milan, Thiago motta. Erding quitte les parisiens pour trouver du temps de jeu a Rennes.

L’arrivée d'Axel posent des questions quand a la stratégie de recrutement.  En effet, Paris a déjà six défenseurs, dont quatre qui peuvent jouer dans l'axe, le seul poste que peut occuper Alex. Peut-être que Ancelotti veut remplace Lugano, souvent gaffeur en défense central, ou alors, est-ce tout simplemt un coup marketing pour vendre des jolis maillots?

A noter aussi le départ de Lucho Gonzalez, qui quitte l'OM pour le club qui l'a révélé, le FC Porto. On peut dire que les années françaises de Lucho n'ont pas été a la hauteur de sa réputation, mais tout me dit qu'il va briller sous le maillot portugais. Nolan Roux rejoint lui Lille, pour palier le départ de Moussa Sow vers Fenerbace, et a déjà brille en marquant un doublé face a St Etienne. 

Autre grands acteurs du mercato d'hiver, les clubs anglais ont encore été très actifs. Queens Park Rangers s'offre les services de Bobby Zamora, buteur de Fulham, mais aussi de Taiwo, prêté par le Milan AC et de Djibril Cisse, ancien pensionnaire de la Lazio de Rome. Chelsea, quand a lui, a déboursé 8 millions d'euro pour Cahill (Bolton). 

On remarque que les grands clubs europeens (a l'exception de Chelsea) n'ont pas vraiment participe a ce mercato. En même temps, les seules équipes pouvant s'offrir des stars sont celles qui les ont déjà!  

On attend avec impatience de voir tout ce beau monde a l'oeuvre, notamment au PSG, nouvel eldorado!