; the little -details- xXx

It's international week again, and the sports section on the papers here are brimming on news about Capello and his merry twenty three men. Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard received most of the spotlight, with multiple stories written about them and as usual, other games were shunted in a few paragraphs quickies squeezed together in one or two pages. I still believe that this fixation on everything English for football in a country that is so far away from England itself is worth studying--I can have all the time in the world after I finish my exams to do so!

Germany vs Russia

Marko Marin is out as Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings look to finally start on their international duties again. Joachim Loew still seems to trust senior, experienced players more than potential youngsters and while Russia is by no means an easy opponent, I'd say let Marin and the youngsters have the chance to shine while it's still qualifiers--to give them more exposure and experience! On the other hand, Marko Marin is needed on the U-21 match against France (zomg so exciting--so many future stars to watch out for!), but I hope that Marko would be able to make the senior team soon again--with Schneider still out, they seriously need more pace and creativity at the middle there. Jogi says we can expect Helmes starting and I certainly hope so; maybe we'd see a Podolski-Helmes starting line up upfront, with Miroslav Klose on bench as a "super-sub" or something.

(And talking about dear Miro, he contributed to a cookery book a bunch of football stars like Fabio Capello and Ruud van Nistelrooy wrote to promote healthy eating and encourage obese youngsters to lose weight. Oh Lord, if he cooks--he suggested a "power omelette" recipe--he is certainly the most perfect man alive. Well, after George Clooney, but that's another story :) ).

Guus Hiddink and Russia have more than just a few tricks up their sleeves. Tottenham's struggling striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is out with a knee ligament injury, but Andrei Arshavin should be ready to lead the attacking Russians to try to puncture the leaky German defense. Oh yeah, while we're on the topic of leaking German defense, Cristoph Metzelder is out again, and I don't know if Jogi would still gamble with the Westermann and Tasci partnership which looked as secure as putting in your money on Morgan Stanley in the stockmarket today during the Finland match. Mertsacker is around, and as much of a disaster Metzelder-Mertesacker partnership was, maybe Jogi would like to mix and match this time 'round.

A bit surprised Borrowski didn't make the cut despite his fine form as super subs in the last few Bayern matches. But the Frings-Ballack partnership is back--and hopefully it can lend some much needed substance into the middle! At the back, apparently Rene Adler is going to start (finally). The search is still on for Lehmann's successor, and I notice that Rensing's name is still inconpicuously absent from the squad list ;D

Expect an offensive-minded, exciting, mindblowing game. The Germans are still playing like shit, while Russia continues to improve, so don't be so surprised if the dark horse upsets the favorite tonight.

Germany
Goalkeepers: Robert Enke , Rene Adler, Tim Wiese
Defenders: Clemens Fritz, Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Serdar Tasci, Heiko Westermann
Midfielders: Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jermaine Jones, Simon Rolfes, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Piotr Trochowski
Forwards: Mario Gomez, Patrick Helmes, Miroslav Klose, Kevin Kuranyi, Lukas Podolski

Russia

France vs Romania

Viera's back, and he's starting and taking the captain's armband from Titi. And Nasri's still out from the team. And what else? Oh yeah, Raymond Domenech's still in charge of the team.

France met Romania just a few months ago in Euro 2008 and produced one of the most boring matches of the tournament. I only managed to keep awake throughout the match because I was sincerely hoping that a brilliant spark would finally fly from Les Bleus--and it didn't happen. Anyone else I knew fell asleep halfway.

Adrian Mutu's out for Romania and there goes Romania's probably best chance for offense. Two teams that play defensively (despite the abundance of attacking talent in France's squad) and anyone watching's probably in for a long, boring ride again unless these two teams can produce something different from the teams that played in Euro08. For France, the answer may be very simple: Yoann Gourcuff. The AC-Milan-loaned-to-Bordeaux man (who, like Cesc Fabregas--both very pretty boys, needs to cut his hair) who is really France's best hope to be the next Zidane. Domenech's other saving grace might be the fact that Franck Ribery is finally available for international duty.

Personally hoping to see Hugo Lloris to start; Mandanda hadn't been very reassuring for the past two games. But since I'm secretly hoping that France would lose so that the guillotine would finally fall on Domenech's head, maybe he should stick with Mandanda since I so do not want to see Lloris' international debut ending up in a loss.

France
Goalkeeper Hugo LLORIS, Stève MANDANDA

Defenders Eric ABIDAL, Gaël CLICHY .Patrice EVRA, Rod FANNI, Jean-Alain BOUMSONG, Philippe MEXES, Bakary SAGNA, Sébastien SQUILLACI

Midfielders Alou DIARRA, Lassana DIARRA, Yoann GOURCUFF, Jérémy TOULALAN , Patrick VIEIRA

Strikers Nicolas ANELKA, Hatem BEN-ARFA , Karim BENZEMA , Thierry HENRY, Florent MALOUDA, Franck RIBERY, Florent SINAMA-PONGOLLE

Romania
Goalkeepers: Bogdan Lobont , Eduard Stancioiu

Defenders: Cosmin Contra, Cristian Sapunaru, Gabriel Tamas, Cosmin Moti, Dorin Goian and Sorin Ghionea, Stefan Radu, Mihai Nesu

Midfielders: Banel Nicolita, Pihai Radoi, Razvan Cocis, Paul Codrea, Costin Lazar, Marian Aliuta, Nicolae Dica

Forwards: Florin Bratu, Marius Nicolae, Ciprian Marice, Daniel Niculae, Florin Costea