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By: Inara | October 17th, 2007Now that international break is over, the players will be returning tomorrow to resume Ligue 1 doldrums. Here’s what’s been happening with Les Gones…
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Lyon players had a very good international break. Last weekend, Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Fabio Grosso all scored goals for their respective national teams (Benzema scored two). Today, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jeremy Toulalan, and Kim Kallstrom all provided assists.
Toulalan was France’s midfield lynch pin.
Grosso was not retained for Italy’s friendly against South Africa (none of the senior players were). Milan Baros was suspended for the Czech Republic’s qualifier against Germany, and Kader Keita did not play with the Ivory Coast against Austria. Patrick Muller and Fred, regularly called up for Switzerland and Brazil, were not called up due to their injuries. Algeria had no matches scheduled during the break, so Nadir Belhadj got some extra rest.
International week results:
Featuring OL players: Faroe Islands 0 – 6 France, France 2 – 0 Lithuania, Italy 2 – 0 Georgia, Liechtenstein 0 – 3 Sweden, Sweden 1 – 1 Northern Ireland.
Games of interest: Italy 2 – 0 South Africa, Germany 0 – 3 Czech Republic, Brazil 5 – 0 Ecuador, Switzerland 3 – 1 Austria, Switzerland 0 – 1 United States,
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Despite it being Thierry Henry’s day, it was Jeremy Toulalan who shined, not just erasing the presence of Claude Makelele at his side but also making everyone forget that Patrick Vieira was missing. It’s amazing that so many people are just now realizing why Lyon don’t miss Mahamadou Diarra.
Even Henry, who is busy celebrating being France’s top goalscorer, had a few words to say about Toulalan:
“I was happy for Jeremy because he had a wonderful match. I don’t know if it was the Nantes atmosphere that did him good, but frankly, he was extraordinary, and he often lent a fresh impetus to the whole team because he recovered the ball in all directions. The only thing he did not do was play goalkeeper, otherwise he was everywhere.”
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Sidney Govou had to watch his Les Bleus teammates from the stands. Nursing a calf injury, he will be examined by a doctor tomorrow to determine the extent of his injury. As depressing as the news is, this means that Hatem Ben Arfa will be afforded more opportunities to start.
Unfortunately, the bad news for Govou doesn’t end there. While he was away with the France National Team, his house was burglarized. The thieves bypassed the security system, searched the house, and made away with 10,000 euros (in cash!) as well as expensive jewelry, two flatscreen TVs, and a video system.
The police are investigating and have even brought in forensic scientists to collect evidence.
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Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus, and AC Milan all had scouts at La Beaujoire to watch Karim Benzema play against Lithuania tonight.
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Last weekend in a reserve match with Nancy, Fred scored the sole Lyon goal, which was assisted by Nadir Belhadj. Fred seems to be nearly recovered and will probably play against Monaco this Saturday.
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OL Ladies beat Sparta Praha 2-1 in their last match in the second group stage, which means that they and Brondby advanced to the quarterfinals. They were tied with Brondy in the group in terms of points, goals scored, and goals conceded, so UEFA flipped a coin to determine which teams would be first and second in the group. Unfortunately for Lyon, they ended up as second, so they will have to meet Arsenal FC – the title holders – in November.
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Representing Lyon for Les Bleues (France National Women’s Team) are Elodie Thomis, Sonia Bompastor, Sandrine Dusang, Laura Georges, Camille Abily, Louisa Nécib, and Sandrine Brétigny. They will face Serbia on October 27th and then Slovenia on October 31st.
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The legal dispute between Lyon and Corinthians still continues. Today, Corinthians have come up with a new way to attempt to appease Lyon. After spending an entire year trying to find ways to avoid paying Lyon the €8m they owe for Nilmar (who is now a free agent), they will be forwarding a new proposal to Lyon, except this time, they will only pay €6m to Lyon and the remaining €2m to Internacional (apparently Lyon owe Inter that sum for Nilmar due to a sell-on clause…it’s so complicated).
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Category: 
Tags: Arsenal, Corinthians, Fabio Grosso, Fred, Hatem Ben Arfa, Internationals, Jeremy Toulalan, Kader Keita, Karim Benzema, Kim Kallstrom, Lyon, Milan Baros, Nadir Belhadj, OL Féminines, OL Ladies, Patrick Muller, Player News and Rumors, Sidney Govou, Team News and RumorsSubscribe
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“Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus, and AC Milan all had scouts at La Beaujoire to watch Karim Benzema play against Lithuania tonight.”
in that case, i’m glad karim didn’t have such a great game.
Posted from
United States
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Karim had a great game despite not scoring.
I am a bit scared of physical problems for him soon. He played almost all the games fully since the beginning of the season (L1, CL and NT). He hasn’t turned 20 yet. He needs a break, although I’m sure he’d rather play. Monaco is a good opportunity to put Fred back into business before Stuttgart, and maybe a new formation for Stuttgart (for a change…) with both Benzema and Fred.Posted from
Japan -
Fred cannot play in Stuttgart, he is still suspended for his elbow on Chivu.
Posted from
France -
haha you’re right, I forgot this detail… injured and suspended…
So he should definitely play vs Monaco at least last 30 mins. Baros will start I hope then and not BenZ
Posted from
Japan -
Karim Benzema had a great game last night. But after the game, he was on RMC with Bernard Lacombe who was taking them back home and Lacombe said jokingly “the price was 60 Million before the game, now it’s 80″.
And in all seriousness, Karim said that he was not even thinking about leaving after everybody told him how Arsene Wenger fell in love with him. I’m telling you, Benzema and Nasri are gonna do GREAT things if they keep it up. They’re smart and super humble.Posted from
France -
i just want to add that ben arfa wasn’t exactly chopped liver either. he looked very, very bad on the shot he blew (while the keeper was out getting a kielbasa) but he was involved in both goals.
Posted from
France -
“Not exactly chopped liver” – great quote! Its becoming thrilling seeing the Lyon players really shining and dominanting the national team again.
Also to wave the flag of OL girls – on Tuesday night they played their final group stage UEFA cup match, winning 2:0. The great news is that this qualified them for the quarter finals, however they arrived absolute joint first (same pionts, same goal difference, same goals scored etc etc). Finally the two top teams had to be drawn from a hat to see who would play Arsenal in the next round and unfortunately we did get Arsenal, grrr.
But who knows there are always surprises in cup matches. the next round is played first at Lyon 14th Nov and then in London a week later.Posted from
France -
Does anybody else giggle at how the English announcers pronounce Benzema. BenZEEma. Sounds like an acne medicine.
Posted from
United States -
howabout pavements = sidewalks, tubes = subways, rubbish = trash (dont forget to empty the trash), leave me alone….. its rubbish, just like this comment eheheheheheh
KTBFFH
Posted from
United States -
“Despite the growing interest of big clubs such as Arsenal, Benzema and team mate Hatem Ben Arfa will probably stay in Lyon. Both players love their team, and want to play in the new stadium which should open by 2010.”
-From BenZEEma’s wikipedia entry. Scott, was that you?
Posted from
United States -
I definitely prefer this entry to the previous one.
Posted from
France -
yes it was me inara… just a message to all the clubs interested in them…
Posted from
Japan -
The weird thing is Hatem Ben Arfa’s entry, which was drastically shortened to three lines.
Lyon need to do well this year, or we are in danger of losing Toulalan and Kallstrom, whom I consider to be key players for Lyon.
Posted from
United States -
for you knowledgeable bad gones, what is the cheapest/best way to get a ticket for lyon-barca in november? from the US or from London. I remember a post about tickets maybe a month ago, but any ideas?
Posted from
United States -
ps I have tried olweb but they say you have to be French or Swiss to order a ticket. is there a way around this? I know there is a last resort of spending 200 Euros through a ticket 3rd party website.
I am trying to help a friend who I will be extremely jealous of but happy for if he ends up going to the game. I spent all spring in Lyon and spent all summer living with my friend watching Lyon on live streams. I tried to convert him but to no avail. If he goes to the Gerland though I bet that will change, and I will finally have a Lyon friend (not to many here in rural New Hampshire). He is in London this fall if it would be easier to get tickets there. Thanks!
Posted from
United States -
best way is through the web site right now (from the 18th). you can then withdraw the seats in Lyon (very easy) or get them sent somewhered in France (don’t you have any friends in France?).
Good Luck!Posted from
Japan
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