One loss and we’re out of the World Cup, says Trezeguet
"Even though there are many games remaining, the first top team to lose is dead," Trezeguet admitted yesterday. Ireland, France and Israel are all on nine points at the halfway point in their qualifiers, while fourth-placed Switzerland are only three points behind with a game in hand.
Trezeguet, who on Saturday failed to add to his France tally of 30 goals in 57 games, said: "I will make up for this in Israel... This what I want for my teammates and myself. It's in these hard times that you make the difference between an average player and a great player."
France may be suffering from the absence of key personnel, some of whom have retired while others are injured, but they also seem to be lacking the confidence to get out of their current rut.
Their problems in front of goal only serve to highlight the shortcomings, although David Trezeguet, the striker guilty of missing arguably Les Bleus' best chance on Saturday night, believes it is only a matter of time before the side regains the winning habit.
"We are experiencing difficult times but I think we will get out of it," predicted the Juventus marksman. "If I had scored a goal, it would have boosted the team's confidence and mine too.
"When we win, the whole of France wins, and when we lose, the team only loses. There will be a match which is going to trigger the start of a new adventure. We must keep progressing."
Trezeguet will be hoping that match is tomorrow night's showdown with joint leaders Israel.
"The Israel match is a big one," he added. "I hope we will show another image of France. We may have the opportunity to develop a freer game against a weaker side. We must get the match that will allow us to relax and triggers better performances.
"The fact we are not finding the back of the net remains a mystery to me. I just hope I will be able to do better in Tel Aviv. We must be ready in our heads.
"Those who arrive with the French team must have one sole aim to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. We must stop thinking and go for it."
Trezeguet insists the negative tactics adopted by opposition teams lies at the heart of their troubles.
France have not had the savvy, given to them in the past by retired maestros Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff, to break down the stubborn defences that have come to the French capital.
"Our lack of success is not a question of confidence, it's just that we lack victories," Trezeguet continued.
"Switzerland played well overall but all three teams who came to the Stade de France (Israel, Republic of Ireland and the Swiss) were very disciplined and left us small spaces. Switzerland came for a point. We will see on Wednesday if we have more freedom."
Thierry Henry is likely to miss out once again in Tel Aviv as he is still suffering with a calf injury sustained on Champions League duty with Arsenal over a fortnight ago.
Trezeguet admitted the absence of the Gunners striker was a big blow to France but insisted he and his teammates must battle on regardless.
"When you have problems like we had last week, it's difficult to work the same way as usual," he added.
"Thierry is injured. I don't know if he will play on Wednesday, but the solution is with or without him, as well as with or without myself. The most important thing is that France book their ticket to the World Cup.
"When I played with Thierry (last month in a friendly against Sweden 1-1) we drew. But when we played without each other there was no goal. We must keep working and it will come at some point."
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