Gooner Talk

France lost 1-0 to China in their final warm-up match before the start of the World Cup in South Africa. 

Deng Zhuo Xiang scored the winning goal in the 68th minute with a swerving free kick from 25 yards. 

The result dealt a blow to France’s confidence as the 2006 World Cup finalists have conceded a goal in each of their last three friendlies while scoring just twice. 

Les Bleus drew 1-1 with Tunisia last weekend and beat Costa-Rica 2-1 last month. Raymond Domenech’s side open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 11, before taking on Mexico and host South Africa in Group A. 

China failed to qualify for the World Cup and were missing several regular starters. 

William Gallas (8)- Played 90 minutes – Could have scored a hattrick and was Les Bleus’ main threat on set pieces. 

Bacary Sagna (6) – Played 45 minutes – Astute performance from the Gunners fullback. Was one of the better French defenders on the day. 

Abou Diaby (7) - Played 22 minutes – Likely to have a big impact for France in the World Cup. Came on and impressed once again, playing in a supporting striker role. 

Carlos Vela and Cesc Fabregas were both in action for their respective countries earlier this evening. Gooner Talk have match summaries of both games with highlights also posted underneath.

Italy 1-2 Mexico

Goals from Carlos Vela and second-half substitute Alberto Medina helped Mexico to consign world champions Italy to a friendly defeat in Brussels.

Vela struck in the 17th minute while Medina scored in the 84th minute before Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci grabbed a consolation a minute from time.

Just as England had been outplayed by the Mexicans for long periods at Wembley last week, Italy were given the runaround by Javier Aguirre’s team at the King Baudouin Stadium. Whereas the English managed to scratch out a 3-1 win however, the Italians were stifled by an improved Mexican backline.

Spain 1-0 South Korea

Jesus Navas’ first goal for Spain gave the European champions a 1-0 win over South Korea in a World Cup warmup on Thursday.

Navas found the net in the 85th minute with a powerful 25 yard shot just after South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong had denied Spain striker David Villa, who came on as a substitute.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas appeared in Spain’s starting lineup for the first time since breaking his leg in early April and stayed on for almost an hour.

The Arsenal captain was not able to stamp his authority on the game, but came close in the 36th minute when his curling shot hit the crossbar.

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Theo Walcott has been omitted from England’s final 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to reports.

The 21-year-old was expected to make his way into the squad, but but a season of injuries and in-and-out form has cost him his place.

Three Lions boss Fabio Capello phoned him to break the news while Walcott was playing golf earlier this morning.

Capello had said that he could not find room for Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips in his party, and that it would have to be two from the three. It now appears Wright-Phillips has forced his way in. The Manchester City winger has the versatility to also play on the left.

Walcott has endured a stop-start season because of a seemingly never-ending run of injuries but he felt that he had finally found his form. His hopes that he would be on the plane were raised when he started in the friendlies against Mexico and Japan but now he must begin to come to terms with the role of spectator.

Give your thoughts on Walcott’s surprise omission in the comments section below.

William Gallas left France’s afternoon training session after just 5 minutes today, with his recurring calf injury coming back to haunt him once again.

According to L’Équipe, the 32-year-old felt his calf after several minutes of running before returning to the team hotel with their physio.

Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech had taken 24 players to their Tignes training camp because of concerns over the fitness of Gallas, who has been unavailable since late March because of his aforementioned calf injury.

Gallas, who scored in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia, is out of contract next month and could leave on a free transfer should he fail to agree terms to extend his four-year stay at the Emirates Stadium.

Update: Gallas opted out of the session due to a stomach ache.

France World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cédric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sébastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Gaël Clichy (Arsenal), Anthony Réveillère (Lyon)

Midfielders Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal)

Forwards Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Robin van Persie has trained with the Dutch national team after recovering from a minor ankle knock sustained in midweek.

The Arsenal striker, who missed almost the entire second half of the season due to an ankle injury, is expected to be involved in tomorrow’s friendly with Ghana.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk revealed that he is delighted with the progress of the 27-year-old.

“I am very pleased with the progress of Robin van Persie after such a long injury. He has quickly got back to the level he was at before. “

Tomorrow’s Netherlands v Ghana match kicks off at 18:30 GMT.

Raymond Domenech’s France side were unable to overcome a motivated and well organised Tunisian team, needing a second half header from William Gallas to rescue a draw.

Slack French defending allowed Tunisia striker Issam Jomaa space to tap home the opening goal in the fifth minute, but Gallas scored in the 62nd minute when he met Yoann Gourcuff’s free kick to head past goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui.

Les Bleus coach Domenech stuck with his new-look 4-3-3 formation, making only one change from the team which beat Costa Rica 2-1 last Wednesday. First-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris replaced Steve Mandanda, who had been at fault for Costa Rica’s goal.

Gallas, who missed the final few weeks of Arsenal’s season after getting injured against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final, still looks short of full fitness but remains a threat on set-pieces.

The centre half’s goal can be seen below: