Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr believes familiarity will lead to anything but contempt for opponents France in the World Cup showdown being billed as ‘Le Crunch’.

THE COMFORTABLE 3-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in Lens on Saturday night may have helped put the smile back on the face of French football but at the local club’s training centre in nearby Avion yesterday, manager Raymond Domenech was counting the physical cost of a game which saw France draw level with Ireland and Switzerland atop what is literally the group of four.

France coach Raymond Domenech does not intend to call up Robert Pires again as he claims the Arsenal midfielder is incompatable with the rest of the French side.

ZINEDANE ZIDANE made a triumphant return to the international stage last night the talismanic midfielder lifting France to a 3-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire.

France 0 Switzerland 0

FRENCH international Vikash Dhorasoo believes a defeat for his country in either of their forthcoming games against Switzerland and Israel would seriously impair their chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Isabelle Rondeau, Paris

Alex Ferguson sent his Manchester United team out at the San Siro looking to inflict a seismic shock on Champions League foes AC Milan.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be left on the bench tonight as Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hands Wayne Rooney a lone striking role in the Champions League match against AC Milan at Old Trafford.

Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has made France’s next two World Cup qualifiers his top priority after shaking off an ankle injury.

CHAMPIONS AC Milan slipped further behind Serie A leaders Juventus when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by mid-table Bologna at the San Siro yesterday.

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Influential midfielder Stilian Petrov declared himself fit hours before kick-off to give Celtic a major boost for their final Champions League Group F clash with AC Milan.

CELTIC boss Martin O’Neill yesterday warned the Parkhead board that they are falling even further behind the top teams in the Champions League.

Clinton Morrison's and Hakan Yakin's goals in the first 20 minutes have not been added to, and it has finished 1-1 between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland in tonights World Cup qualifier.

Goals from Clinton Morrison and Hakan Yakin mean that the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland are level at half-time.

After a period of pressure from Switzerland, Hakan Yakin has put them back on level terms with the Republic of Ireland.

Clinton Morrison has put Ireland ahead eight minutes into their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland, heading the ball in from a Damien Duff cross.

Roy Keane made his long-awaited competitive return for the Republic of Ireland after an absence of almost three years tonight.

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Lyon 2 Porto 2 (Porto win 4-2 on agg)

FC PORTO lived up to their billing as potential Champions League winners with a convincing win over French champions Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final last night.

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Alberto Carvalho has put Porto two-up.

Ricardo Kaka and Andrea Pirlo have made it four for Milan.

Andriy Shevchenko has put AC Milan ahead in the first minute of the second half.

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