The lowdown

賽事前瞻

If England's recent clash with Honduras was anything to go by - and clash, in this case, is very much the correct term - then France will have to gird their shin pads. The South Americans aren't afraid of a lunging tackle or two, particularly when on the back foot; sturdy defending might be their best option against an improving French side.

如果英格蘭與洪都拉斯交戰失利，那么法國就必須要裹緊自己的護腿板了。一兩個鏟球對南美勁旅來說不算什么，特別是在防守情況下。加固防守，或許是在面對勁旅法國時的最好出路。

Still, to dismiss them as total roughhouses would be unfair - they're hardly the international version of Wimbledon's late '80s team - and Honduras are a generally disciplined unit in their 4-4-2 formation. With two strikers, Jerry Bengston and Carlo Costly scoring freely in the qualifiers, there's an outside chance they might nick a goal here.

當然，把他們單純定義為簡單粗暴未免有失公平。他們不是80年代末期的那支球隊，同時，洪都拉斯是一支訓練有素的隊伍，陣型為4-4-2。其前鋒為杰瑞·本特森（Jerry Bengston）和卡洛斯·克斯特利（Carlo Costly），兩位在預選賽中打得游刃有余，或許在邊鋒位置，他們可以趁機尋找突破，偷襲得手。

France, meanwhile, approach this tournament in an unusually tranquil mood. The decision to leave sulky-faced midfielder Samir Nasri at home initially seemed controversial. Subsequent comments from playing staff have hinted at a newfound serenity within the squad.

同時，法國以罕見的平靜狀態迎接比賽。起初，把中場薩米爾·納斯里排除在大名單之外，顯得頗有爭議。在隨后的球員們的表態暗示出其實順理成章。

With their attacking flair diminished by the ruling out of in-form midfielder Franck Ribery (back injury), Paul Pogba and Yohan Cabaye will have to pull up the slack. Meanwhile, a defensive four that has lacked stability all season will need to gel quickly. This fixture against an unfancied Honduras side should enable them to establish a groove.

因主力中場里貝里因背部受傷無法參賽，博格巴和卡巴耶將不得不彌補因此所造成的空虛。同時，4人的防守組合在整個賽季都缺乏穩定性，目前要迅速找回狀態。與相對弱旅洪都拉斯對戰，應該能讓他們如愿以償。

What the local media say

當地媒體怎么說

"With Ribéry out, Deschamps could have called up Manchester City's Samir Nasri, but having made clear he had not picked him in the first place because of his behaviour off the pitch, he overlooked him again."-France 24

法國24電視臺評論說：“里貝里缺席情況下，主帥德尚本應該征召曼城的納斯里，但因其在場外惡劣的表現，不再考慮他，德尚再一次忽視了他。”

"[Luis Fernando] Suárez [was working with his defence] on a way to counter the advances of the French midfield, pushing the plays for Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly, the two men allegedly [selected] for the game on Sunday." -Daily Tribune Honduras

每日論壇報指出：“主帥路易斯-費爾南多-蘇亞雷斯（Luis Fernando Suárez)正在加固隊內防守，以應對法國來自中場的挑戰。據悉，即將到來的比賽中，法國將啟用博格森和卡巴耶，到時，蘇亞雷斯將派人遏制兩人。”

Key battle: Olivier Giroud vs Maynor Figueroa

關鍵對決：吉魯VS菲格羅亞

Both these players know each other from the Premier League, though how the Hull defender copes with Giroud could prove pivotal. Figueroa has experience for sure, and can play as both a centre-half and left-back, but he'll have to shackle at least one of the French front three - Giroud, Karim Benzema and Loic Remy - if Honduras are to gain a steady footing in this fixture.

兩人在英超就熟悉彼此，當時吉魯與赫爾防守的配合是重點。菲格羅亞無疑是有經驗的，可同時扮演中后衛和左后衛，但如果洪都拉斯想在交手中保持穩健，那么他必須面對法國三前鋒吉魯、本澤馬、雷米的圍堵。

Giroud, meanwhile, cut something of an enigmatic figure at Arsenal last season. Devastating in spells (he scored 22 goals in all competitions), there were times when he seemed distracted. With his supply lines pinched by the absence of Ribery, Giroud will have to be at his most self-motivated in Brazil. The worrying news for Honduras is that his attacking team-mates have more than enough firepower should he experience a bad day at the office.

同時，吉魯在上個賽季的阿森納有些讓人費解。像中了咒語一樣（在比賽中共進球22個），有段時間他顯得心不在焉。為彌補缺少里貝里導致控球危險，他必須在巴西完全調動起自己。擔心洪都拉斯的言論都表示，進攻搭檔不足以支持吉魯，這會讓他步履維艱。

（譯者 Lari 編輯 齊磊）