Peace Cup Overview
By: Inara | July 23rd, 2009Day after tomorrow, the players kick off their fourth Peace Cup campaign (for some odd reason, the event organizers really like Lyon). For those of you unfamiliar with the tournament, it takes place every two years and is one of the six pre-season friendly tournaments going on this summer. The last three Peace Cups took place in South Korea – Lyon were runners-up in 2003 and 2005, and they were winners in 2007.
This time, the tournament is taking place in Spain, and the list of invited teams are a lot more impressive. Many players are calling it Champions League practice because half the teams are European regulars while some of the others are impressive in their own right.
Kim Kallstrom won the Golden Shoe in 2007, and Karim Benzema was the tournament’s MVP.
Unlike the last two season, where there were two groups of four teams each, this summer there are four groups of three. The winner from each group will go on to the semifinals, and the winners from those two games will play in the final. Each group winner will earn €500,000, the finalist will get €1m, and the winner will win €2m. Not bad for a summer friendly.
Lyon are going to have it a lot tougher this time around because they are in a group with Porto and Beşiktaş. Should Lyon top their group, they may face Real Madrid, Sevilla, Juventus, Aston Villa, and LDU Quito. But before we can worry about that, Lyon need to take care of their group first.
Group D
7/25/09 – Lyon vs. Beşiktaş – 2:30 PM ET, 20:30 CET
7/27/09 – Lyon vs. Porto – 4:30 PM ET, 22:30 CET
7/29/09 – Beşiktaş vs. Porto – 4:30 PM ET, 22:30 CETSemi-Finals
7/31/09 – 1st Group A vs. 1st Group B – 2:30 PM ET, 20:30 CET
7/31/09 – 1st Group C vs. 1st Group D – 4:30 PM ET, 22:30 CETThird Place
8/2/09 – Loser Semi-Final 1 vs. Loser Semi-Final 2 – 2:30 PM ET, 20:30 CETFinal
8/2/09 – Winner Semi-Final 1 – Winner Semi-Final 2 – 4:30 PM ET, 22:30 CET
While all the players are excited to play in such an exciting tournament, it will be especially interesting for Karim Benzema (who was the 2007 MVP when Lyon won it the last time), who is now with Real Madrid, and for Lisandro Lopez and Aly Cissokho, who will be confronting Porto (the team they just left) in a few days.
Though Puel hasn’t said much about what formations he has in mind, he did say that Cesar Delgado and Lisandro Lopez would probably not feature against Beşiktaş due to slight injuries they picked up in practice. It’s nothing serious, but the staff want to play it safe and give them enough time to heal. Otherwise, all players are healthy and raring to go.
Le Groupe Lyonnais: Lloris, Vercoutre – Bodmer, Boumsong, Cissokho, Clerc, Cris, Grosso, Mensah, Réveillère – Bastos, Court, Delgado, Ederson, Grenier, Gonalons, Källström, Mounier, Pjanic, Makoun, Toulalan – Govou, Lisandro, Piquionne, Tafer
It’s probably to early to see Puel assemble a dream team, as the purpose of friendlies – even high profile ones – is to experiment. From the last three Peace Cup campaigns, we’ve seen a lot of the younger players show what they can do. Last time, it was Loic Remy, Anthony Mounier, Karim Benzema, and Hatem Ben Arfa who stole the spotlight from the older players.
Tomorrow, I’ll be putting up a preview for Lyon vs. Beşiktaş, and we’ll know more about the condition of the players.
Category: Friendlies
Tags: Al-Ittihad, Aly Cissokho, Aston Villa, Atlante, Besiktas, Friendlies, Juventus, Karim Benzema, LDU Quito, Lisandro Lopez, Malaga, Peace Cup, Porto, Real Madrid, Seongnam, SevillaSubscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments | Add your comment
-
It is obvious that we need at least one new striker. Piquionne is not Ligue 1 champion class and certainly not CL class.I cant imagine what will happen if Licha gets a longer injury.In my opinion we should sell Piquionne and buy one or two back up strikers.And also give Tafer a chance.
Posted from
United States
-
I will watch the Peace Cup since Real is playing in it this year, not because Lyon is. Puel has pretty much cleared out all the academy players in favor of a bunch of ‘veterans’ of Ligue 1. The signings have not really instill to much confidence in me either, as I never rated Cissohko, Lisandro Lopez will get in to double digits but just barely, and Michel Bastos, while a good player, is stuck between a left back and a left midfielder and limits the chances of Mounier, who I rate much higher.
With Said Mehamha on international duty with the France u-19 team, I will only have hope of seeing Tafer and maybe Grenier play? This is not the Lyon I fell in love with, and it saddens me to see Jean Mimi get a player boner for anyone who plays well against Manchester United or played for a big European team despite not being very good. He is sacrificing the future for quick success. Can anyone really say that the squad we have now is capable at a run into the later stages of the Champions League? It is not the squad of 04-05.
Posted from
United States -
im normlly one to criticize OL sadly but im gonna defend tham from corey-lool Mounier better than Bastos-not quite.Licha is one of europes best,and cissokho is probably the most talented 21-year-old LB in the world.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Pandev just behind Licha in a 4-4-1-1 would be deadly,to be honest I couldnt see a better partnership in football than Licha-Pandev.But sadly I dont think it will be pulled off,but you never know,Pandev wants to leave and it seems more players than I thought find Lyon attractive-so who knows.
Posted from
Ireland -
I’d like to see the Kallstrom-Toulalan pairing again, as it was fantastic last year; a Kim-Makoun pairing might be even better for offensive purpouses.
And how anyone can fault JMA for bringing in Lilo, and Bastos is beyond me. Lilo is world class and Bastos may be one day. Cissokho is a bit of a gamble and really expensive, I’ve never seen him play so the jury is still out for me.Posted from
United States -
I dont really think that OL will really sign Pandev,as Napoli seams more interested in him.Im also disapointed becuase It seams that OL wont once again give some playing time this season to Grenier, Tafer, Mehamha, Kolo,… I dont understand why a player like Grenier who was a year ago tracked by Arsenal,Inter,Liverpool,… doesnt get his chance here.Even if its sad but it would be much better for them to leave.
Posted from
United States -
Is it me or is Delgado becoming like Mensah? It seems he’s always picking-up slight knocks here and there, and he had about two last season that kept him ouf for a while? The “Glass-Ghaneaen” and the “Airy-Argentine.” Sorry, couldn’t find a better adjective that starts with “A.”
Posted from
United States -
Exactly what position/s does Grenier play?
Posted from
United States -
I think you are wrong Corey, U think we would have better squad than the 04 squad if we put all the 17 and 18 year players out there? Our president has bought us 3 potentially WORLD CLASS players, a striker, and this team will be the best lyon team in many years. A Player like Tafer is still very young, and I’m sure, if he’s good enough, he will get the chance.
Posted from
Norway -
John;Grenier can play as RM or AM.
Posted from
United States -
Theo, if Pandev would choose between Napoli and Lyon, he would come to us. If Aulas realy wonts him then he will be a Lyon player.
Aleksander, we have a strong squad but we had a much stronger squad two years ago.Posted from
United States -
Theo: that’s probably why he doesn’t/won’t play much(bec he’s an AM/RMF): Ederson, Govou, Pjanic, Delgado; too much competition.
Posted from
United States -
Maybe start shopping for a CB:
http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/lyon/article_335361_Lyon-West-Ham-lorgne-Mensah.shtmlPosted from
United States -
Hey Inara, you may be glad to hear about this.
http://www.seethecup.com/footballers/fred-flop-of-the-year-in-brazil/
Posted from
United States -
I think you’re being a little harsh, Corey. It’s true that Lyon are throwing a lot of money around, but they can no longer get cheap, decent signings. Every club will try to rip them off because they know Lyon have money. It’s what happens when a club grows bigger and becomes more higher profile. Also, Lyon no longer have the best pickings of L1 because of Marseille and Bordeaux. And as a whole, the entire transfer market is inflated right now.
I’d love to see Mounier do well too, but it could simply be that he’s not impressing. Puel does have a good eye for talent – he’s developed far more than Houllier or Perrin. I think it would be good for Mounier to leave – I would prefer a loan, but L1 no longer panders to Lyon’s interests – because he needs consistent playing time. I certainly would not be comfortable having him as a starter, but he needs to be one in order to develop to his full potential (like Remy). Not everyone can be a Benzema.
Posted from
United States -
I watched Fred a couple of times on Brazilian tv, and the first time was impressed for about two minutes; thought the old Fred was back, but I can’t imagine what the hell Sevilla were thinking if those rumors are true. I’d rather have Freddy P., at least he knows he’s a third option and acts accordingly.
Posted from
United States -
John,thats why Grenier, Mounier or Pjanic must go out on loan to a solid french club like Nice, Lorient, Grenoble,…Or to leave and became the new Remy.
Posted from
United States -
Theo, I made the point before that I think Pjanic should stay -and selfishly for me- to develop slower. I don’t want him to explode this year and then next demand to leave because there still isn’t a spot. I just don’t see him fitting in to this club for some time- Mounier/Grenier either- because I don’t see any of the current starters leaving anytime soon. It’s a shame. What we need to start doing is loaning our CFA’s and getting good money from their sales.
Posted from
United States -
Nice post. i learned many more about the football from this post.
thanks for posting.Posted from
Australia
Leave a Reply
If you have not commented here before, please take a moment to peruse ourCommenting Guidelines.
Home 
