World Cup qualifying match one: France

With the first World Cup qualifying match against France this Saturday in Vienna, Karel Brückner is hard at work devising a plan to slow their attack. He has equally noted that he is possibly going to make some roster adjustments as he reviews injuries. At present a nagging ankle injury has kept Paul Scharner out of the lineup, however that could change by Thursday.

Prior to the match I’ll be reviewing Austria tactics and key’s to breaking down France that Karel Brückner is reviewing. Very simply much can be learned from Romania’s tactical approach against Les Bleus in the recent Euros.

The provisional rosters are noted below:

Austrian Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Jurgen Macho (AEK Athens), Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim), Alex Manninger (Juventus)

Defenders: Gyorgy Garics (Atalanta), Ronald Gercaliu (Salzburg), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Proedl (Werder Bremen), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)

Midfielders: Rene Aufhauser (Salzburg), Christian Fuchs (Bochum), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg), Jurgen Saumel (Torino), Joachim Standfest (Austria Vienna)

Forwards: Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna), Marc Janko (Salzburg), Roland Linz (Braga), Stefan Maierhofer (Rapid Vienna).

Raymond Domenech named the following France squad with notable absence of Ben Arfa

Goalkeepers:Hugo Lloris (Lyon),Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders:Rod Fanni (Rennes),Eric Abidal (Barcelona),Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla),Gael Clichy (Arsenal),Patrice Evra (Manchester United),William Gallas (Arsenal),Philippe Mexes (Roma),Bakary Sagna (Arsenal)

Midfielders:Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon),Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux),Alou Diarra (Bordeaux),Samir Nasri (Arsenal),Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth),Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan)

Forwards:Karim Benzema (Lyon),Sidney Govou (Lyon),Jimmy Briand (Rennes),Thierry Henry (Barcelona),Florent Malouda (Chelsea),Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)