France- a Euro 2008 favorite- that lost 2 points today against Romania.

I saw the Romania - France live on ESPN. I pressed the mute button and put the radio commentary online from RTL.fr . ESPN doesn't need to narrate every detail because the image is on TV. I like to know every move with some analysis from France followers- so that's why I rather put the radio on.

I thought, this Euro is getting predictable. The favorites are winning their 1st match. Germany and Portugal by a 2 goal difference. Today, France will win too.

........ What a surprise! Today Nil nil draw 0-0!

If Germany and Portugal won by 2-0. It wasn't too much to ask for France to do the same, right?

Benzema- so many expectations. 1st half- not much service from the midfield. Had to get back to defend a few times or get possession of the ball.

What France needed to win- The 2 forwards to get into the area and score. More understanding between the 2 Benzema and Anelka. Not to rely only on Ribery. On the left, incursions by Malouda, or Abidal. On the right, Sagnol to save the day, score and be decisive. After the match, former France player Lizarazu, said that so far there are no solutions in the front. To hear more opinions on the France match in French: Les Bleus tenus en echec par la Roumanie. I agree with what he said.

Let the wingers, Ribery and Malouda to play freely not caged in a box in their side. Free to go to the middle, switch sides, sort of like the 2 Portugal wingers: Simao, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

1st half- Strict 4-4-2. Not the usual France. Ribery and Malouda stayed in their respective flanks. They didn't go forward, weren't free to go in the middle and give service to the 2 forwards. Benzema and Anelka were too isolated in the front. Rarely had the ball.

The 2 instances where France could have scored. Minute 32- Anelka, a header right in the box, went over the bar by a little. Minute 42 Karim Benzema- a shot outside the area, over the bar by little too. Surprised the Romani defense with that shot.

2nd half- Ribery played more freely. Spent most of his time going forward, near the box, crossing balls into the penalty area. The most decisive shot on target came when Ribery was in the box.

The man of the match for me was Ribery in the 2nd half.

Romania's game- Former France player, Bixente Lizarazu, was a commentator on the radio after the match. He was saying that Romania didn't really play. They spent most of their time stopping France. Slowing down the rhythm. To the point of make a substitute change in injury time.

Post-match opinions of former France player Lizarazu: After the game, he said that the key for France in the Euro 2008 will be Ribery. "I prefer Ribery to play more freely. Malouda to play less offensive, more defensive for the team. " Do you agree with Lizarazu?

Will Domenech keep the same starting 11 in the next game? Sagnol instead of Diarra? Anelka instead of Nasri? - What did France need to win?