Luxembourg 0, France 2 - Goals from Mexes and Gourcuff - Bad boys Evra and Ribery both get starts

That's a 4th consecutive 2-0 victory for France in Euro 2012 qualifying. They started like this:

Benzema
Malouda Nasri(c) Ribery
M'Vila Gourcuff
Evra Mexes Rami Sagna
Lloris

Some of the other players who we might have seen instead of Ribery and Evra, who missed out either through injury or the manager's preference, include Valbuena, Menez, Alou Diarra, Clichy, Diaby, Hoarau, and Abidal. The decision was arguably harsh on Menez and Clichy, who were both available. Clichy didn't even make the bench, which consisted of Menez, Remy, Gameiro, Alou Diarra, Sakho, Reveillere, and Mandanda, none of whom were used. The only change to the starting line-up shown above was Ribery and Malouda trading places after an hour or so.

Ribery looked much more useful when he switched to the left.

Nasri and Gourcuff also traded places at times, and sometimes left M'Vila alone, changing the formation to a 4-1-4-1.

The atmosphere was a little strange in the small Luxembourg venue. Some High School sporting events in the US produce bigger crowds, I'm guessing. The pitch also seemed small, and crowded.

I'm easing into a moan about the performance. Obviously the result is the most important thing, and no one is going to remember the performance. If the match lingers in the memory at all it will be for the return of Ribery and Evra.

Luxembourg, who have yet to score in Euro qualifying, and are limited going forward, are quite decent at defense. Their tackling and offside traps are right out of the text book.

But why did France get caught offside so many times?

The first goal, when it came (28th minute), was from a set piece, and set pieces looked like France's only chance to score. Nasri took a free kick and Mexes headed it in.

That was a relief, and until Ribery switched to the left, France rarely looked like adding to that goal.

The second goal came from a long ball to Ribery on the left, which he took brilliantly. He got in a good cross/shot which was parried out to the edge of the box, and Gourcuff did well to reach for it and score (72nd minute). 2-0.

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