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Player Ratings: France 3-1 Austria
Les Bleus prepared for the World Cup play-offs with a satisfactory victory over the side who inflicted defeat upon them by the same scoreline back in September 2008. Goal.com looks at the players who managed to turn things around for Raymond Domenech, and their opponents...
Oct 14, 2009 11:40:36 PM
FRANCE
Lloris – 7.0 – One terrific first half save from a Maierhofer drive, but it was not all good for the Lyon goalkeeper. Will perhaps feel he should have done more with the initial shot that led to the Austrian goal, and was a little lucky to get away with a late misjudgement.
Fanni – 7.0 – Some excellent raids forward, showcasing his strength, power and technical ability. A vastly under-rated right-back, though he won the penalty in somewhat dubious circumstances.
Escude – 6.5 – Did adequately well against the Austrian front-pairing, though he was not overly exerted in the first half. Had a more difficult second period, when there were obvious weaknesses.
Squillaci – 6.5 – Like Sevilla club-mate Escude, he did enough to say he had a solid game, but on the evidence of the second half, this is not a partnership to lead les Bleus to the World Cup. Fine as a stop-gap, though.
Clichy – 7.0 – Along with Malouda, he ran the show on the left hand side of the park in the first half. Might have liked to have got forward just a little more effectively at times.
Govou – 6.5 – Relatively quiet performance from the Lyon star on the right of midfield, much like his showing against the Faroe Islands at the weekend. Certainly not bad, but Domenech would have been looking for a more potent performance.
Sissoko – 7.0 – Solid first international start. The Toulouse man was guilty of a few slack passes early on but soon found his range. One terrific cross-field pass picked out Henry, who was clean through but missed the chance. Largely simple but effective.
A. Diarra – 7.0 – In the team in place of namesake Lassana. Solid in the tackle and commanding in the first half. Protected his defence well for the most part, but seemed to drop down a gear after the interval. A more complete performance would have been expected.
Malouda – 8.0 – Irresistible in the first half, the Chelsea man would have been on course for 9.5 had he kept such form up. Faded following the pause, but he still had his assist for Benzema’s opener to cherish.
Benzema – 8.0 – Has long talked about his benchmark game for les Bleus, and this was perhaps it. Often dropped deep, from where he terrorised the Austrians. In addition, he scored with a diving header, but might have had another when well placed eight yards out.
Henry – 7.0 – Was at least part responsible for the success Malouda enjoyed in the first half, frequently dancing past his marker. A little wasteful in front of goal, particularly when played through by Sissoko. The Barca man limped off with a slight injury in the second half.
Substitutes
Gignac – 7.0 – Strikers are largely on the field to score, and ‘APG’ did just that with a fine effort to make the game safe. Not his most active game, though.
Gomis – n/a – Had little time to make a real impression.
AUSTRIA
Payer – 5.5 – Withdrawn at half-time, he could not have been blamed for either of the French strikes. Was quickly off his line to block Govou, who was clean through. Critics will argue he could have organised his defence better from set-plays.
Scharner – 4.5 – Not a game to remember for the captain, who was made to look silly time after time in the first half by Malouda. Much too keen to jump into a tackle, this actually paid off when he made a fine block on Henry, who seemed poised to score. That was one rare success.
Patocka – 5.5 – The Austria defence was largely a disorganised shambles, though it was the full-backs who constantly played the French onside. Still, the centre-backs rarely got near enough to their forwards.
Dragovic – 5.0 – Another man who was pulled about all over the place on a torrid evening for the visitors. Committed several fouls around his own penalty area, which France could have punished.
Fuchs – 5.5 – He was the victim of a harsh penalty decision. The left-back certainly was the pick of the defence in the first half. Not so good in the second half, though one cross did nearly allow Janko to head home.
Kavlak – 5.5 – Limited going forward, the right-sided midfielder was frequently forced to double back to shackle the French forwards. Despite this, his defensive attributes were shown to be wanting. When he did get a sight of goal late on, he made a mess of the shot.
Pehlivan – 6.0 – Kept things simple to start with, and that was when Austria looked at their best. As play wore on, the effectiveness of their midfield waned.
Baumgartlinger – 6.0 – Toiled to win possession against the French midfield when they stepped things up, but largely held his own in the middle of the field.
Jantscher – 6.5 – Quiet first half from the left winger, he improved greatly in the second period, proving to be his side's most dangerous threat from midfield. True, possession was cheaply squandered at times, but at least he was willing to have a go, and it increasingly paid off.
Janko – 7.5 – Undoubtedly the star of the Austrian side, he cut an frustrated figure in the first half, when he held the ball up well but had no-one on his wavelength to benefit. His hard work was rewarded by a goal after the break.
Maierhofer – 5.5 – Proved he is very much an attacker with a bizarre give away that led to France’s opening goal. This proved to be his defining point of the match, ensuring that many will forget his fine shot that was saved by Lloris.
Substitutes
Gratzei – 6.0 – Like Payer, who he replaced at the break, he was helpless about the goal he conceded. A bizarre incident when he slid out his box clutching the ball didn’t help his cause, but he was by no means a negative influence.
Hoffer – 6.5 – Certainly had a positive influence in attack alongside Janko. It was his shot that Lloris spilled to allow the Red Bull Salzburg man to score.
Alaba – n/a – Austria’s youngster ever international, he looks one for the future on the basis of his brief cameo.
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
Lloris – 7.0 – One terrific first half save from a Maierhofer drive, but it was not all good for the Lyon goalkeeper. Will perhaps feel he should have done more with the initial shot that led to the Austrian goal, and was a little lucky to get away with a late misjudgement.
Fanni – 7.0 – Some excellent raids forward, showcasing his strength, power and technical ability. A vastly under-rated right-back, though he won the penalty in somewhat dubious circumstances.
Escude – 6.5 – Did adequately well against the Austrian front-pairing, though he was not overly exerted in the first half. Had a more difficult second period, when there were obvious weaknesses.
Squillaci – 6.5 – Like Sevilla club-mate Escude, he did enough to say he had a solid game, but on the evidence of the second half, this is not a partnership to lead les Bleus to the World Cup. Fine as a stop-gap, though.
Clichy – 7.0 – Along with Malouda, he ran the show on the left hand side of the park in the first half. Might have liked to have got forward just a little more effectively at times.
Govou – 6.5 – Relatively quiet performance from the Lyon star on the right of midfield, much like his showing against the Faroe Islands at the weekend. Certainly not bad, but Domenech would have been looking for a more potent performance.
Sissoko – 7.0 – Solid first international start. The Toulouse man was guilty of a few slack passes early on but soon found his range. One terrific cross-field pass picked out Henry, who was clean through but missed the chance. Largely simple but effective.
A. Diarra – 7.0 – In the team in place of namesake Lassana. Solid in the tackle and commanding in the first half. Protected his defence well for the most part, but seemed to drop down a gear after the interval. A more complete performance would have been expected.
Malouda – 8.0 – Irresistible in the first half, the Chelsea man would have been on course for 9.5 had he kept such form up. Faded following the pause, but he still had his assist for Benzema’s opener to cherish.
Benzema – 8.0 – Has long talked about his benchmark game for les Bleus, and this was perhaps it. Often dropped deep, from where he terrorised the Austrians. In addition, he scored with a diving header, but might have had another when well placed eight yards out.
Henry – 7.0 – Was at least part responsible for the success Malouda enjoyed in the first half, frequently dancing past his marker. A little wasteful in front of goal, particularly when played through by Sissoko. The Barca man limped off with a slight injury in the second half.
Substitutes
Gignac – 7.0 – Strikers are largely on the field to score, and ‘APG’ did just that with a fine effort to make the game safe. Not his most active game, though.
Gomis – n/a – Had little time to make a real impression.
AUSTRIA
Payer – 5.5 – Withdrawn at half-time, he could not have been blamed for either of the French strikes. Was quickly off his line to block Govou, who was clean through. Critics will argue he could have organised his defence better from set-plays.
Scharner – 4.5 – Not a game to remember for the captain, who was made to look silly time after time in the first half by Malouda. Much too keen to jump into a tackle, this actually paid off when he made a fine block on Henry, who seemed poised to score. That was one rare success.
Patocka – 5.5 – The Austria defence was largely a disorganised shambles, though it was the full-backs who constantly played the French onside. Still, the centre-backs rarely got near enough to their forwards.
Dragovic – 5.0 – Another man who was pulled about all over the place on a torrid evening for the visitors. Committed several fouls around his own penalty area, which France could have punished.
Fuchs – 5.5 – He was the victim of a harsh penalty decision. The left-back certainly was the pick of the defence in the first half. Not so good in the second half, though one cross did nearly allow Janko to head home.
Kavlak – 5.5 – Limited going forward, the right-sided midfielder was frequently forced to double back to shackle the French forwards. Despite this, his defensive attributes were shown to be wanting. When he did get a sight of goal late on, he made a mess of the shot.
Pehlivan – 6.0 – Kept things simple to start with, and that was when Austria looked at their best. As play wore on, the effectiveness of their midfield waned.
Baumgartlinger – 6.0 – Toiled to win possession against the French midfield when they stepped things up, but largely held his own in the middle of the field.
Jantscher – 6.5 – Quiet first half from the left winger, he improved greatly in the second period, proving to be his side's most dangerous threat from midfield. True, possession was cheaply squandered at times, but at least he was willing to have a go, and it increasingly paid off.
Janko – 7.5 – Undoubtedly the star of the Austrian side, he cut an frustrated figure in the first half, when he held the ball up well but had no-one on his wavelength to benefit. His hard work was rewarded by a goal after the break.
Maierhofer – 5.5 – Proved he is very much an attacker with a bizarre give away that led to France’s opening goal. This proved to be his defining point of the match, ensuring that many will forget his fine shot that was saved by Lloris.
Substitutes
Gratzei – 6.0 – Like Payer, who he replaced at the break, he was helpless about the goal he conceded. A bizarre incident when he slid out his box clutching the ball didn’t help his cause, but he was by no means a negative influence.
Hoffer – 6.5 – Certainly had a positive influence in attack alongside Janko. It was his shot that Lloris spilled to allow the Red Bull Salzburg man to score.
Alaba – n/a – Austria’s youngster ever international, he looks one for the future on the basis of his brief cameo.
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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