Hugh Freeze expects Jordan-Hare to be a ‘great challenge’ for Oklahoma’s first SEC road test

Hugh Freeze expects Jordan-Hare to be a ‘great challenge’ for Oklahoma’s first SEC road test

Hugh Freeze on injury updates and how he feels entering season two as Auburn’s head coach

By Ainslie Lee | alee@al.com
Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze is excited for the new-look, 16-team SEC which as of Monday features Oklahoma and Texas.

“You’re adding two of the elite programs in the country to this already-difficult — what I think is the best — conference in America,” Freeze said ahead of his Auburn AMBUSH stop in Lake Martin on Tuesday night. “It does make it difficult, but that’s also exciting and why as a coach and as a player you want to play in this conference.”

In 2024, Auburn will take on one of the SEC’s newest additions with a home game against Oklahoma on Sept. 28 in what will be the third meeting in the two programs’ history.

The Sooners’ late-September trip to Auburn will not only make for their first visit to The Plains, but it’ll also mark Oklahoma’s first true SEC road test. And Freeze is confident the Auburn Family will give Oklahoma a warm welcome to playing on the road in the SEC.

“Well, Jordan-Hare, I think, will provide for them a great challenge,” Freeze said with a smirk on Tuesday.

And while Freeze is looking forward to being a part of the first-ever Oklahoma-at-Auburn football game, he does wish he could make one small adjustment.

“I wish they would get the night-version of Jordan-Hare,” Freeze said. “But Jordan-Hare will be rocking either way and I think they’ll enjoy that for sure.”

The Tigers’ game against the Sooners is slated for an afternoon kickoff, meaning the game could get underway anytime between 2:30 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.

“Hopefully we’ll be prepared as a team because I know Jordan-Hare will be,” Freeze said.

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Warren Zaïre-Emery can become the heart of France’s midfield at Euro 2024.

Warren Zaïre-Emery can become the heart of France’s midfield at Euro 2024

Warren Zaïre-Emery can become the heart of France’s midfield at Euro 2024

When Galtier gave Zaïre-Emery his debut at PSG, he was limited by injuries, suspensions and a lack of form on the part of the club’s other midfielders. But, like Deschamps, he saw strong, consistent evidence that Zaïre-Emery was able to handle a crucial role. Zaïre-Emery has impressed for his club over the past year – including his man of the match display as PSG dismantled Milan in the Champions League – so there was plenty of anticipation before the Gibraltar fixture at the weekend.

His brief performance on the night lived up to the hype. Zaïre-Emery showed both a willingness to take risks in the tackle and to drive forward when play dictated. On this evidence, he has the maturity needed to play in midfield for a team of France’s level. Deschamps has been reluctant to give players their debuts so young. Mbappé, Kingsley Coman and Ousmane Dembélé all had to wait longer and, while they sparkle in freer attacking roles, Zaïre-Emery’s remit and responsibilities in the centre of midfielder are quite different.

Admittedly, an own goal and red card in the first 20 minutes settled the match, but the teenager’s poise and maturity on the ball were impressive. Playing as the right of a central pair with Adrien Rabiot, he pushed up eagerly with the ball at his feet, recycled possession comfortably and provided a ready outlet. As he has already shown for PSG, Zaïre-Emery is capable of both holding the ball and distributing it.

Zaïre-Emery has the potential to be the centrepiece of this team’s midfield, a difficult area for Deschamps after Blaise Matuidi’s retirement, Paul Pogba’s suspension and N’Golo Kanté’s loss of form. The manager has other options, not least Camavinga and Tchouaméni, but neither offers Zaïre-Emery’s metronomic presence. He is able to win the ball back and recycle it, ​g​iving ​F​rance’s offensive players more freedom and, crucially, ensuring Antoine Griezmann is more involved in the attack.

The Atlético Madrid ​forward played well as a makeshift central midfielder in Qatar, but he is more effective when having greater involvement in the attack, where he can influence the game more directly and put in the hard yards in terms of pressing and tracking back – not aspects of the game that Mbappé and Dembélé enjoy.

Dembélé enjoy.

If the youngster continues to develop, France will have a more balanced midfield. With Zaïre-Emery partnering either Rabiot or Youssouf Fofana against lesser opponents, or the more defensively minded Tchouaméni against stronger teams, France will be a more complete side. Deschamps has led France to three finals in the last four major tournaments. His promotion of Zaïre-Emery seven months before the Euros suggests he has taken another Shelley quote to heart: “Nothing wilts faster than laurels that have been rested upon.”

Henry eats his words after humbling defeats
One has to wonder how much mirth was enjoyed by Montpellier manager Michel der Zakarian when France’s Under-21s lost to Austria and South Korea in the international break. Der Zakarian recently sparred in the press with Henry after the Under-21s manager claimed there was a “lack of action” in Ligue 1. Der Zakarian responded bluntly, mocking Henry’s record at Monaco and suggesting that a manager in the France setup should support the French league.

“I do not agree with Thierry Henry,” said Der Zakarian. “Where did he manage? What did he do in Monaco? It was three months and he left. The guy works for the FFF and criticises French football. This is bullshit. It’s easy to denigrate the league when you are coach of the Under-21s. He won twice 4-0, but against who? He didn’t beat anyone. If he wins 5-0 against Spain or Italy then I will then say ‘bravo’.”

The two men have patched things up, according to Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin, but Der Zakarian’s comments about Henry’s team are not without merit after a pair of humbling losses – 2-0 to Austria and 3-0 to South Korea. France still lead their Euro 2025 qualifying group, but they are only above Slovenia on goal difference.

The absence of Zaïre-Emery was a heavy one, but an attack boasting Elye Wahi, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Arnaud Kalimuendo should be producing more given their experience. To have lost twice without scoring is troubling, especially so soon before the Olympics in Paris next summer.

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🚨 Paul Pogba: “I’m still a football player. Don’t look at that stuff saying I’m retiring, I’m finished… I wanna fight for my career, I’m optimistic”.

“I’m not finished. I’m training hard! I’m still 100% footballer”.

“I can’t wait to return on the pitch”, told Sky Sport.

🚨 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 & BREAKING: Manchester City sign all docs to bring Sávio back, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨 confirmed! 🔵🇧🇷

Brazilian winger can be considered Man City player as joins from parent club Troyes on a permanent transfer.

After excellent season at Girona, Savinho remains in City Group but will play under Pep Guardiola at City.

Despite many proposals, Manchester City decide to bring him back as Sávio can be an important player.

Formal steps expected to follow after Copa América.

[via Fabrizio Romano ]