Before they travel to Nancy next Saturday, eleven Stade Rennais players have been called up in their respective national teams, for friendly games this Wednesday. International Round-up.
After Stéphane M’bia’s departure last summer, there is a new “untamed lion” in the Stade Rennais squad. Indeed, Georges Mandjeck will be included in the Cameroon’s delegation for a friendly against Poland to be played in Germany. Present at the World Cup in June, the new Rennes player was back to training early after his country went out in the first round. Despite M’Vila suspension last week-end against Lille, Mandjeck started the game from the bench. Entered during the match in replacement of Sylvain Marveaux, he distinguished himself with a powerful presence in the Rennes midfield.
Poland - Cameroon, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Olympiastadion, Berlin (Germany).
Even though he only reported back for training on July 26th, Asamoah Gyan is included in Milovan Rajevic’s Ghanaian squad travelling to… South Africa. A selection strongly criticized by Frédéric Antonetti and his staff, who hoped to keep “Babyjet” in Brittany to get him ready for the next League encounters. Brought in for the last thirty minutes against Lille this Saturday, Gyan is clearly lacking competition, and doesn’t seem completely ready for competition yet. Questions can be raised, therefore, on this rather surprising call-up, considering he will have to go through a two way travel to South Africa and a football game before joining the rest of his squad in Nancy. However, this game could help him beat his daemons, as it will be played at the Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium, where the Rennes striker missed his penalty against Uruguay in the quarter-final of the last World Cup.
South Africa - Ghana, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg (South Africa).
For Michel Dussuyer’s first game in charge as Guinea’s national coach, although he had already coach the “Syli national” from September 2002 to April 2004, Ismaël Bangoura has been picked up in the squad to face Mali, in a game to be played in Marseille. Rennes’ only goal scorer during the Ligue 1 first game week, Bangoura showed much activity in Rennes’ attack. Brilliant in the construction and remarked for his ability to play with his back to the goal, he was often involved in Antonetti’s team most dangerous chances. Another Rennes player is included in Dussuyer’s squad, youngster Abdoul Razzagui Camara. At this moment, however, no information has filtered regarding the Breton striker’s intentions. Camara is reportedly willing to take more time to consider his options towards his international future.
Guinea - Mali, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhône, France).
Kader Mangane has also received a call up for the game against Cape Verde Islands in Dakar. The new Rennes captain managed a solid performance this week-end, in the line of his good pre-season games, despite occasional difficulties and imprecisions in the clearance. He was supposed to travel to Dakar with Cheick N’Diaye, but the goalkeeper had to decline his selection because of a shoulder injury. Against Avranches in the CFA on Sunday (0-1), he showed safe hands throughout the game, and even managed a massive double save in the second half. He was left without a chance, however, when Didot blasted a shot in the top corner of his goal, in the first fifteen minutes of the game.
Senegal – Cape Verde, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Dakar (Senegal)
A nice surprise in Laurent Blanc’s first selection as a national coach, with three Rennes players called up for his first friendly in charge: Nicolas Douchez, Rod Fanni and Yann M’Vila.
This selection could be the chance for Douchez to get his first cap. In contention with Stéphane Ruffier (Monaco), the Rennes goalkeeper will hope to wear the French shirt for the first time in Oslo. The Monaco man seems to be the favourite for the job however, but Blanc announced a full rotation in his squad. Will this apply to the goalkeeper position? Against Lille, Douchez showed confidence in the air. Powerless on Lille’s equaliser, he then managed a brilliant double save against Sow later in the game.
Available for a transfer, Fanni remains uncertain on his future. One thing is sure however, the club won’t mind if he was to remain in Rennes, especially after his performance in central defence along Kader Mangane last week-end. Reassuring in his defensive work, strong in the air, efficient in his passing, Fanni has got what it takes to become one of the country’s best centre backs. A chance for him, as Blanc faces the daunting task to give his team a renewed defensive stability.
Finally, M’Vila will discover Clairefontaine with the “real” French National team. Included in Raymond Domenech’s first list before the World Cup, he was not called among the 23. He probably doesn’t regret it that much… By all means, he his clearly one of the new players Laurent Blanc wants to build with for the Future. Competition will be harsh, but he has already proven he wasn’t easily impressed. Banned against Lille, he followed a specific training schedule to be fit and ready in Oslo.
Ghana-born Norwegian international Alexander Tettey wasn’t called up by his national coach Egil Olsen for this game. Absent of most friendlies this summer because of a quadriceps injury handicapping him since the latter stages of last season, Tettey played in a game against Saint-Malo last week. However, he had to renounce to the first league game, still because of this thigh injury.
Norway - France, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo (Norway).
Three more players from Antonetti’s squad will make the short journey to Vannes for a France U21 European qualifying game against Belgium.
A first U21 cap for Yacine Brahimi, who could play a much important role in this age category. Following his first start in Ligue 1, the French-Algerian attacking midfielder is living a very special week. Voted Man of the Match by the Rennes fans last Saturday against the LOSC, Brahimi’s vision and technique impressed all observers during this game.
In the goals, Johann Carasso is back in the U21 selection. Already capped in this category, the former Montpellier goalkeeper will be in contention with Kévin Olimpa (Bordeaux) and Yohann Thuram-Ulien (Monaco, loaned to Tours).
Finally, Samuel Souprayen has received yet another call from Eric Mombaerts, and appears as one of the most senior players in this selection, after he was systematically called with the “Bleuets” last season.
France - Belgium, friendly, Wednesday, August 11th 2010, Stade de la Rabine, Vannes (Morbihan, France
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