New-look French lacking in ideas

Pirate Irwin, Paris

France’s last qualifier was in 1993 when they lost to Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes which denied them a place in the USA finals the following year.

Ironically, in their previous qualifier, it had been Israel who had beaten them, also at the Parc des Princes, when a point would have earned France their ticket to the USA.

From the ashes of those setbacks came a generation of players which won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European championship but new coach Raymond Domenech, in only his second match in charge, is involved in rebuilding the French side again.

Domenech promised better things from his side as times goes on. “The more matches we play, the more we’ll get stuck in,” he said.

Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira was playing his first game as captain in a match where Domenech was having to do without the retired Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu and Lilian Thuram.

He fielded Louis Saha, who played in place of the injured David Trezeguet, up front with Thierry Henry. Monaco defenders Gael Givet, Sebastien Squillaci and Patrice Evra, with just one cap each, all made it into the starting 11.

Behind the defence, keeper Gregory Coupet was between the posts in place of Fabien Barthez whose foot injury will also force him out of Wednesday’s qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

France desperately missed the creativity of Zidane in the middle of the park and no doubt Domenech brought on Barcelona midfielder Ludovic Giuly and Robert Pires during the second-half to try and create some variety. With just 10 minutes left, Henry shot left-footed, forcing Davidovitch to palm the ball away with his right hand, and Henry also saw a headed opportunity sail over.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult group and not to win at home isn’t ideal. I was playing in my first match since Euro 2004 - the first quarter of an hour was hard and the last 15 minutes too, but I’m happy enough with my performance.” said Vieira.

FRANCE: Coupet; Gallas, Squillaci, Givet; Mendy (LGiuly 57), Makelele, Vieira (captain), Evra, Rothen (R Pires 66); Henry, Saha.

ISRAEL: N Davidovitch; T Ben Haim, K Saban Rahamim, A Banado (captain); I Antebi (A Keisi 13), V Badeer, Y Benayoun (A Nimny 80), I Tal, O Afek (R Gazal 70); O Golan, Y Katal

Referee: Rene Temmink (Netherlands).