France v Uruguay preview

France are prepared to gamble on Zinedine Zidane's fitness as they attempt to save their World Cup campaign from disaster.

Coach Roger Lemerre will leave it to Zidane to decide if he is fit enough to face Uruguay in Thursday's crunch clash in the Asiad Stadium.

Zidane resumed training on Monday after tearing a thigh muscle during a recent friendly against South Korea, and Lemerre is ready to trust the Real Madrid star's judgement.

The midfielder has been to hospital this week for tests and Lemerre said: "He himself knows how he is.

"Everybody knows he has started running and the injury is responding well to treatment.

"We will consult the doctors and we will see how he is in the morning.

"If he wants to play, and I think he wants to play, I will let him. If he wants to play it is up to him.

"It wouldn't be that big a risk and if you have a cold and are unwell, then you know best when you are well again.

"It's like that with him and he will know when he's ready. Of course there are always some doubts and some risks, but it is up to him."

Lemerre is anxious to have Zidane back - as well as Youri Djorkaeff who has a groin injury - and he knows France's reign as World Cup holders would effectively be over if they lost to Uruguay.

Last Friday's shock defeat to Senegal has left France contemplating the unthinkable and Lemerre hopes this will spur his players on.

"If we draw we will know that we will still have a chance, but if we lose then we know we will be going home," he said.

"These South American teams play well against European sides. The quality is similar so we understand what we are up against."

Meanwhile Uruguay forward Dario Silva has been cleared to play but Fabian O'Neill will miss the make-or-break clash.

Silva missed two training sessions after picking up a calf injury in the 2-1 defeat to Denmark and Federico Magallanes had been lined up as his replacement.