French team for Euro

[Mike Courchevel]

Hello,

As most of you guys are not looking at the French forum, I want to raise an issue that is making the Buzz in the French squash community.
It is about the French selection for Euro team :
- Grégory Gaultier (4) – Aix en Provence,
- Thierry Lincou (7) – Marseille,
- Renan Lavigne (39) – Marseille,
- Julien Balbo (49) – Bron,
- Yann Perrin (83) – Marseille

A lot of French are disappointed that Stephane Galifi is not selected. Obviously, we cannot argue on the first 3 players that form the soul of our team. However, Galifi, who has now fully paid for his past errors (2 years suspension) has managed to come back quite succesfully winning 3 PSA (not totally sure) and signing some victories over great names as Bianchetti and Lavigne in March 09.
He reached world ranking (54), and for a lot of Franch squash players, he is the one that can take down an English player in 4th position, or at least win some sets to possibly dethrone English Supremacy (assuming Gaultier and Lincou win their match).

No arm to Julien Balbo and Yann Perrin who are great players, but they did not prove yet that they have the ability to make the same upset.

What seems to be really frustrating is that many talks mentionned that the selection was made so because of some personal dispute between Galifi and some responsible of the French Squash Federation. The result is that the French team is, for most, not the best that we can put !

Mike

[ianball]

Perhaps Yann beat him in a playoff?

Perhaps he declined the invite?

I like Galiffi, he looks so smooth around the court from that video on the French videos selection site.

Ian B.

[D to the AN]

Was there any official explanation given by French squash? I, too, think it is a great shame, he would have made a good number 4. To be honest, based on latest results, the stronger team would arguably be one without Lavigne - he too hasnt really been able to do smth. extra-ordinary at 3. Balbo and Galifi at least have the potential to win a set or two at 3 or 4 due to their attacking ability, although I havent seen either play in a while.

Dan

[foxsilver]

Dan,
Before writing, you should check the records : Lavigne beat Balbo 3 times (2 times in PSA and French Nationals) in the last 6 months, and also nearly took Darwish to 5 in the North American Open in March (4 game balls to get to 2-all), which shows he can take games at 3 against some top guys. Plus he has not lost once to Galifi (except last month) in the last few years. That says it all. Without mentioning that he has the fitness to back up matches day in day out, he is very experienced and reliable.

[D to the AN]

Yes, point taken and thanks for the research. In my opinion Lavigne is a typical top 40 player, he usually always beats (bar the last few tournaments) people behind him but never beats anyone in the top 20 (excuse me if he has, if so then I perceive this to not happen very often). Therefore I dont think he will fare too well against his English opponent. He is very fit and he doesnt do much wrong, but he does not have the game to trouble Peter Barker or Adrian Grant right now.

Galifi is unlikely to beat either of them, though I can see him do okay against Grant. With Balbo it is even less likely. However, I feel that both players, especially Galifi, have the game to cause an upset or at least take the first game due to being able to play very attacking squash. With Lavigne the English know what they are getting and how to play him, against Galifi, even if you know what to do, he can still outplay you or fire in plenty of nicks on a good day.

Anyway, we are not gonna find out since Galifi aint playing. Balbo is playing Grant at the Irish Open though this week first round, that should give a good indication as to whether Mr. Balbo can trouble him.

[Toby]

Looking at the final results, it seems feasible Galifi could have been a difference-maker for France -- at least he would have stood a better chance against Walker than Balbo did. It's too bad he didn't play.