The lowdown

赛事前瞻

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.

如果英格兰与洪都拉斯交战失利，那么法国就必须要裹紧自己的护腿板了。一两个铲球对南美劲旅来说不算什么，特别是在防守情况下。加固防守，或许是在面对劲旅法国时的最好出路。

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.

当然，把他们单纯定义为简单粗暴未免有失公平。他们不是80年代末期的那支球队，同时，洪都拉斯是一支训练有素的队伍，阵型为4-4-2。其前锋为杰瑞·本特森（Jerry Bengston）和卡洛斯·克斯特利（Carlo Costly），两位在预选赛中打得游刃有余，或许在边锋位置，他们可以趁机寻找突破，偷袭得手。

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.

同时，法国以罕见的平静状态迎接比赛。起初，把中场萨米尔·纳斯里排除在大名单之外，显得颇有争议。在随后的球员们的表态暗示出其实顺理成章。

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.

因主力中场里贝里因背部受伤无法参赛，博格巴和卡巴耶将不得不弥补因此所造成的空虚。同时，4人的防守组合在整个赛季都缺乏稳定性，目前要迅速找回状态。与相对弱旅洪都拉斯对战，应该能让他们如愿以偿。

What the local media say

当地媒体怎么说

"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

法国24电视台评论说：“里贝里缺席情况下，主帅德尚本应该征召曼城的纳斯里，但因其在场外恶劣的表现，不再考虑他，德尚再一次忽视了他。”

"[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

每日论坛报指出：“主帅路易斯-费尔南多-苏亚雷斯（Luis Fernando Suárez)正在加固队内防守，以应对法国来自中场的挑战。据悉，即将到来的比赛中，法国将启用博格森和卡巴耶，到时，苏亚雷斯将派人遏制两人。”

Key battle: Olivier Giroud vs Maynor Figueroa

关键对决：吉鲁VS菲格罗亚

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.

两人在英超就熟悉彼此，当时吉鲁与赫尔防守的配合是重点。菲格罗亚无疑是有经验的，可同时扮演中后卫和左后卫，但如果洪都拉斯想在交手中保持稳健，那么他必须面对法国三前锋吉鲁、本泽马、雷米的围堵。

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.

同时，吉鲁在上个赛季的阿森纳有些让人费解。像中了咒语一样（在比赛中共进球22个），有段时间他显得心不在焉。为弥补缺少里贝里导致控球危险，他必须在巴西完全调动起自己。担心洪都拉斯的言论都表示，进攻搭档不足以支持吉鲁，这会让他步履维艰。

（译者 Lari 编辑 齐磊）