Soccer: Moment of truth for Cup titleholders

INCHEON - Struggling World Cup champions France will chase for inspiration and hope their luck changes tonight when they take on Denmark needing a two-goal victory to qualify for the last 16.

A 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the opening match and a goal-less draw against Uruguay have left the titleholders bottom of group A with one point.

If they stumble again, France will become the first reigning champions since Brazil in 1966 to fail to reach the second round.

The likely return of playmaker Zinedine Zidane has raised French spirits but even with their talisman midfielder they will have their work cut out in Incheon.

"We are in a very simple situation. We must beat the Danes by two goals," said midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who will miss the game through suspension. "We won't have any pressure. We are going to play just like we always do. It's not because we have failed to win a match so far that we are going to change our whole strategy."

Coach Roger Lemerre appears keen to stick to his highly sophisticated 4-2-3-1 line-up, which has been made to measure for Zidane, the world's most expensive player.

"I could have done many things after the opening match. But the right option was to keep faith with the way we play," Lemerre said. "We'll see if I'm wrong."

Zidane, who tore a left thigh muscle during a warm-up friendly against co-hosts South Korea on May 26, resumed training with his team-mates on Saturday.

The team doctor said Zidane could be fit for tonight, but conceded that he would not be at his best.

France still have to win a match without Zidane this year and hope his presence will be enough to change their luck.

"We have created dozens of opportunities to score in these two games," said skipper Marcel Desailly, "and on the scoreboard we have nothing."

Petit and striker Thierry Henry are both suspended for this match. Sweeper Frank Leboeuf is doubtful with a groin injury.

Denmark need only a draw to qualify but coach Morten Olsen said they would not play for a draw.

"We must enter this game with the will to win. The situation in the group is particularly tricky and anything can happen. The most important thing is to score the first goal, like the match between Argentina and England has proved," he said.

France and Denmark have met four times in an international tournament since 1984 and each time the winner has gone all the way through to the title.

Senegal, the flag-bearers of African football at these finals, will nail a place in the last 16 of their first cup if they take at least one point from Uruguay in Suwon tonight.

Senegal have already upset the group A form book with the win over France and proved their steel with a 1-1 draw against Denmark.

They have four points from two games and are second in the group to Denmark on goal difference.

For Uruguayan coach Victor Pua, the discipline of Senegal's France-based squad is of primary concern as his team seek the win they need to retain a chance of qualification.

"They have learned a lot in Europe as nearly all their players are based in France, but at the same time they have the speed and physical strength of the Africans," Pua said.

Uruguay have only one point from their two games and are third above France on goal difference.

Apart from the continued injury to midfielder Fabian O'Neill, Uruguay are at full strength.

Senegal, however, will be without midfielder Salif Diao, who scored their only goal against Denmark but was sent off 10 minutes from time for a nasty challenge.

Coach Bruno Metsu will also be hoping that sweeper and captain Aliou Cisse has recovered from a calf muscle injury that kept him off the field against Denmark.

Probable teams:

France: Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, Philippe Christanval, Marcel Desailly (capt), Bixente Lizarazu; Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele; Sylvain Wiltord, Zinedine Zidane, Christophe Dugarry; David Trezeguet.

Denmark: Thomas Sorensen; Thomas Helveg, Rene Henriksen, Martin Laursen, Jan Heintze; Dennis Rommedahl, Thomas Gravesen, Stig Tofting, Jesper Gronkjaer; Ebbe Sand, Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Senegal: Tony Sylva; Omar Daf, Lamine Diatta, Pape Sarr, Pape Malick Diop, Ferdinand Coly; Khalilou Fadiga, Habib Beye, Pape Bouba Diop, Moussa Ndiaye; El Hadji Diouf.

Uruguay: Fabian Carini; Gustavo Mendez, Alejandro Lembo, Paolo Montero (capt), Dario Rodriguez; Gustavo Varela, Pablo Garcia, Gianni Guigou; Alvaro Recoba; Dario Silva, Sebastian Abreu.

- REUTERS

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