France face moment of truth

By Patrick Vignal

COLOGNE (Reuters) – France must beat Togo by at least two
goals on Friday to make sure of avoiding another early exit
from the World Cup and midfield maestro Zinedine Zidane will
not be there to help them.

Zidane, who will retire following the finals, is suspended
after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in a
1-1 draw with South Korea, which will have been his last match
if the 1998 world champions fail to survive the group stage.

If France, who have not won a World Cup match since lifting
the trophy on home soil eight years ago, win in Cologne by just
one goal, their fate would depend on the outcome of the other
match in Group G between Switzerland and South Korea.

France, whose goal against South Korea was their first on
the World Cup stage since they stunned Brazil 3-0 in the 1998
final, are still hoping to reach the July 9 final in Berlin.

“Big teams like Italy or Germany have had slow starts and
great runs in the past,” said striker Thierry Henry. “We must
believe in ourselves.”

On paper, France are strong enough to beat Togo comfortably
but the African debutants, who cannot reach the knockout stage,
are desperate to leave Germany on a high after a campaign
marred by a pay dispute, coaching crisis and nearly a match
boycott.

“It is always special when any African team plays France,”
said striker Mohamed Kader Coubadja. “Motivation springs from
that alone.”

UNCOMFORTABLE FUTURE

France coach Raymond Domenech, who will be without not only
Zidane but also defender Eric Abidal through suspension, is
keeping his cards close to his chest regarding team selection
but has no option other than to reshuffle his team.

Domenech, whose own future would look very uncomfortable if
France failed to qualify, is expected to opt for a 4-4-2 system
with David Trezeguet or Louis Saha joining Henry in attack.

Mikael Silvestre should come in for Abidal at left back
while defender Lilian Thuram is poised to win his 117th cap,
breaking the national record he shared with Marcel Desailly.

Thuram is one of several players who won not only the 1998
World Cup but also the 2000 European Championship and are
dreaming of a suitable farewell in their last major finals.

They came to Germany looking for a burst of pride after Les
Bleus left the 2002 World Cup without a win or a goal from the
group stage having entered the tournament as champions.

Their seasoned campaigners, including the great Zidane,
could be back for a final encore if France live up to the
occasion and recapture their winning ways against Togo.

Otherwise they will be sent packing again and the curtain
would fall on the finest generation to wear France’s colours.

Probable teams:

Togo (4-4-2):

16-Kossi Agassa; 2-Dare Nibombe, 3-Jean Paul Yaovi Abalo
Dosseh, 5-Massamesso Tchangai, 8-Kuami Agboh; 9-Thomas Dossevi,
10-Cherif Toure Mamam, 6-Yao Aziawanou, 17-Mohamed Kader
Coubadja; 13-Richmond Forson, 4-Emmanuel Adebayor.

Coach: Otto Pfister

France (4-4-2):

16-Fabien Barthez; 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram,
5-William Gallas, 13-Mikael Silvestre; 22-Franck Ribery,
4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele, 7-Florent Malouda;
20-David Trezeguet, 12-Thierry Henry.

Coach: Raymond Domenech

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (France)

(Additional reporting by Alexandra Hudson)