Domenech Rings Changes In France Squad To Face Turkey

The France squad that will face Turkey on Friday evening at the Stade Gerland in Lyon will pose little resemblance to the outfit that lost 1-0 to Nigeria in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday night as head coach Raymond Domenech has made a massive nine changes to the starting XI.

Only Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka and home favourite Karim Benzema, who was born in the city and also plays for les Gones, will retain their spots in a much changed outfit.

Many of the changes will come as a matter of course, Domenech will, contrary to statements he made to the press earlier in the week, want to see as many players as possible in action, however, there will also be an element of anger in his team selection as the players selected on Tuesday simply did not perform to their highest level.

Surprisingly, captain Patrick Vieira is one of the men dumped to the bench, with Jeremy Toulalan and Lassana Diarra preferred in the holding midfield positions. The defence is entirely altered, with Hugo Lloris coming in to play in goal while Philippe Mexes and Jean-Alain Boumsong protect him.

France were roundly booed as they trooped off the park on Tuesday evening and will be hoping to avoid a similar fate against Turkey. Although Raymond Domenech’s job does not yet appear on the line, public opinion continues to swing wildly against the controversial coach.

France Starting XI to face Turkey: Lloris; Sagna, Mexes, Boumsong, Abidal; Toulalan, L. Diarra; Anelka, Gourcuff, Malouda; Benzema

Robin Bairner, Goal.com