Heading into Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica, Domenech has been working on a new 4-3-3 formation – thus dispensing with the two holding midfielders he systematically used during the World Cup qualifiers, where the team played with extreme caution in a rigid and uninspiring 4-2-3-1 line-up.
In Monday afternoon’s training, Domenech had Jeremy Toulalan as the lone holding midfielder in front of a flat back-four, with Yoann Gourcuff and Florent Malouda either side of him, Franck Ribery on the left wing, Andre-Pierre Gignac on the right wing, and Thierry Henry as the lone striker.
Arsenal centre-back William Gallas, who is trying to prove his fitness to Domenech following a recent calf problem, trained normally in both the morning and afternoon sessions and appears to be close to full fitness. Domenech could be ready to start him in this new attacking formation on Wednesday.
Domenech also put in place some set-piece training late in the session. France has shown a weakness defending free-kicks and corners in recent times, and Gallas’ aerial presence is crucial to the coach’s defensive plans.
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