Mesut Ozil will be the only Gunner to start Friday evening’s World Cup quarter-final showdown between France and Germany in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium.
Despite missing out on a starting berth Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny do all take a place on the bench for their respective countries.
Ozil, who scored the decisive second in his country’s extra-time victory over Algeria earlier in the week, looks set to start on the right of a rejigged German attack with Miroslav Klose restored to Joachim Loew’s starting line-up.
Per Mertesacker, who has featured in every game for Die Mannschaft up to now, is believed to be suffering from a cold and hasn’t been risked. Lukas Podolski missed the last game with a thigh problem but is fit enough to take a place on the sidelines.
Didier Deschamps has opted to start Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann instead of Olivier Giroud while Laurent Koscielny has been replaced by Mamadou Sakho. Arsenal target Mathieu Debuchy starts ahead of ex-Gunner Bacary Sagna.
France line-up
01 Lloris
02 Debuchy
03 Evra
06 Cabaye
04 Varane
05 Sakho
19 Pogba
14 Matuidi
10 Benzema
08 Valbuena
11 Griezmann
Substitutes: 07 Cabella, 09 Giroud, 12 Mavuba, 13 Mangala, 15 Sagna, 16 Ruffier, 17 Digne, 18 Sissoko, 20 Remy, 21 Koscielny, 22 Schneiderlin, 23 Landreau
Germany line-up
01 Neuer
16 Lahm
04 Höwedes
06 Khedira
05 Hummels
20 Boateng
07 Schweinsteiger
18 Kroos
11 Klose
08 Özil
13 Müller
Substitutes: 02 Großkreutz, 03 Ginter, 09 Schürrle, 10 Podolski, 12 Zieler, 14 Draxler, 15 Durm, 17 Mertesacker, 19 Götze, 22 Weidenfeller, 23 Kramer
Still don’t get Sakho over Kos. If Per is ill, then the rest makes sense I suppose.
Sakho has potential is pretty shite now, imo. Kos was excellent I thought against Nigeria, France were up against it a fair bit and he blocked lots of crosses from when Evra went walkabout. Haven’t conceded when he’s played (I think) so I don’t quite get that decision.
I personally haven;’t seen enough of Sakho to judge, but ask any Liverpool fan and they say he is shite. That’s the weird bit.
Good point. There was a time when the majority of Arsenal fans thought Mertesacker was crap too.
That said, I have considerable reservations regarding Sakho. I still think Koscielny is both the better defender and the better defensive partner to Varane.
Actually they conceded twice against the Swiss when he came on. That said they have not conceded when Kos has started a game. But I still don’t understand why he starts Sakho over Koscielny…
Per is not ill. Löw dropped him, because he wants Lahm to be right back again (since Khedira – Schweinsteiger in DM worked a lot better than both Bayern players together) and he obviously didn’t want to play with five defenders.
Bierhoff just said that they chose him, because they think that he is too slow for the french attackers. However, I personally think that he is mistaken.
It’s not my personal opinion, but a fact that he was >not< dropped because of an illness.
I want Germany to destroy France now just because Deschamps has the nerve to drop Koscielny for Sakho. Seriously, Sakho?
At least 2 gunners come home this night… I’m looking at you france… Per was the only functioning defender against Algeria… Fuck you Low.
An unused Koscielny is a fit Koscielny;) let’s hope Sakho scores a belter of an own goal!
Really Wanted to see giroud and per go ead to head
Sakho might have done really well in training and maybe he’s being rewarded for it? That’s how it should be, innit?
Fuck that! Koscielny over Sakho. Seriously? I don’t understand this. Especially when he was the best player against Nigeria apart from Pogba.
I hope Ozil gets a hat trick of assists.
I’m hoping Ozil wins it for Germany and Schurrle kicks himself in the head. Then maybe the English media will shut the fuck up, though knowing them they’ll claim they predicted it all along.
actually…two arsenal player start i blive (debuchy)
I guess Kos has dropped down the order since his red against Ukraine in qualifiers.
guessing Didier was pretty drunk while opting for the starting line-up
Looks like France are already paying for Kos the boss’s absence.
Lloris is shit.
I am only logging in here to confirm that we have signed Sanchez.
Monsieur Wenger, please get it done
Why the fuck is not per playing
Per is pure class! Noticed while Khedira was down, he helped his teammates on the sideline, getting them water. Wrap that armband around his arm already!:-)
Same bloke playing duchey ahead of Bac… Not supprised, the bloke’s an idiot.
Starting Griezmann. Really worked didn’t it? This months flash in the pan flavour of the month… He is best as an impact sub. Deschamps paid the price for believing the media hype.
IT WAS THE ARSENAL WOT WON IT 😉 The semifinal that is. Come on you Gunners of all colours, your countries need you!
Campaign to keep Cesc banner down. For me no longer suitable when he is playing for Chavs and team mates with JT aka the cunt. Lets see your opinion thumbs up for keeping his mugshot away from our stadium and down for “he might play for the chavs but i love him nevertheless and would also love to see a cashley cole erection”
wat da fug are you talking about?
No wonder France lost! No Kos, no Giroud earlier no party!
And now there is a signing. 7.8m agreed on debulchy
There will be at least 2 or 3 confirmed signings next week. A right back, a Chilean, and a German
Does anyone else think we could adopt the Brazil song on ITV and replace it with Ozil. Ozil Ozil Ozil
Debuchy has just confirmed on French TV he’s joining us.
Is it true that Wenger has bid 30 million euros for Fred?
No
Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? Shhhhhhhh