Be warned: France are not beaten yet

A CAUTIONARY note seems advisable after absorbing the cross-section of views expressed in the sports pages of the Sunday papers — France have conceded nothing ahead of next Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie at the Stade de France.

You would be excused for thinking Ireland need only put in an appearance to be sure of at least a point if you were to accept much of what was written. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The sense of optimism that is sweeping through the ranks of the commentators is based upon this double premise that the French are vulnerable and that Ireland have the capacity to qualify automatically for the finals in Germany in two years time.