Vive Le Foot!

So there, I did poorly on my predictions for the World Cup qualifiers with two 1 – 1 draws and the quasi certitude that France will finish second in group 7 behind Serbia and will battle with the likes of Portugal, Greece or Russia for a World Cup spot, not an easy task…

The pastel Gaucho enters the Ligue 1 Pampa…

Among the positives it seems that Thierry Henry finally took control of the national team after the weekend soap opera that was the highly publicized confrontation with coach Domenech and even scored both goals. Expect Thierry to take over Les Bleus in the same manner Zizou did in 2006 with hopefully the same semi-success…

In any case it is almost a relief to go back to Ligue 1 and more simple matters granted that the Champions League will follow a couple of days later…

OM disappointed at home in its goalless draw vs. Bordeaux and they haven’t won since mid-August but the debut of Argentinean playmaker extraordinaire Lucho Gonzalez will provide ample entertainment at the expense of a very average Le Mans team that will nevertheless make OM doubt…

Le Mans – Marseille 1 - 1

Poor Lille, once a Champions League side, already flirting with the bottom of the table. Meanwhile Sochaux rebounded well against Monaco…will they win? Yes. Elegantly? No. Ex- Ligue 1 goleador Pierre-Alain Frau (FRA) is back.

Lille – Sochaux 1 - 0

Lorient has enjoyed a nice start in the league thanks to an assist leading Olivier Monterrubio (FRA), but Lyon , even without Lisandro Lopez (ARG) and Jean-Alain Boumsong (FRA) will prove to be too much for Lorient. Lyon is deep this year, very deep.

Lyon – Lorient 3 - 1

The happily promoted sides face each other and will give a 100%. In the end these two high scoring teams will both be satisfied with an entertaining draw.

Montpellier – Lens 2 - 2

The advantage goes to Nancy, unlucky at Lyon on week 4. Toulouse is not showing much in the beginning of this season and it’s getting worse.

Nancy – Toulouse 2 – 1

Valenciennes got their first points 2 weeks ago and Boulogne keep on surprising everybody solidifying their Ligue 1 presence but they don’t score much…

Valenciennes – Boulogne 0 – 0

How can a team be already threatened by relegation after only 4 games in the league? By playing the leader and best attack of Le Championnat: a Bordeaux team that will steamroll Grenoble’s poor defence

Bordeaux – Grenoble 3 - 0

Auxerre is the only team that has yet to score a goal and luckily they are playing the worst defence of Ligue 1. Nice got spanked at home a couple of weekends ago so this is revenge, especially because Gignac showed nothing with Les Bleus which should provide motivation for French international striker Loic Remy to score!

Auxerre – Nice 1 - 2

St Etienne finally gathered their first points and Gonzalo Bergessio (ARG) and Guirane NDaw (SEN) scored in a friendly against Ligue 2 Dijon so I feel like they finally got a kickstart. Rennes drew in their last 3 games but they will win tonight.

Rennes – St Etienne 3 – 1

PSG suffered a setback with Erding’s shoulder injury but with only 59 minutes of playing time Christophe Jallet (FRA) has scored twice in the last 2 games and he’s adding some much needed depth to the midfield after the loan of Jerome Rothen to Glasgow Rangers. Monaco Coach Guy Lacombe is facing his old team and will want to prove something, especially with the addition of star Eidur Gudjohnsen (ICE) straight from Barca.

Monaco – PSG 1 – 2

The Frenchman!