Trezeguet banned for qualifier against Ireland

STRIKER David Trezeguet will sit out France’s visit to Dublin for the crucial Group Four qualifier in September.

The Juventus player received a two-match ban yesterday after being sent off against Israel in Tel Aviv for head-butting midfielder Tal Ben Haim.

He will also miss the home clash with the Faroe Islands four days before the game against Ireland in Lansdowne Road.

France were 1-0 up against the Israelis at the time of the former Monaco player's dismissal thanks to a Trezeguet goal before the hosts secured a draw with a late equaliser.

That draw left both teams on top of the group on 10 points after six games, although both Ireland and Switzerland lie only a point behind and with a match in hand each.

Trezeguet's punishment is, at least, less severe than the French had first feared and he will now be eligible to face Switzerland and Cyprus in the last Group Four qualifying games in October.

While French coach Raymond Domenech should be able to cope without the 27-year old for the home tie against the Faroes in Saint-Denis, his absence for the trip to Lansdowne Road is a major setback to Les Bleus' hopes of reaching Germany next year.

Trezeguet has scored 31 goals for his country in just 58 appearances since making his senior debut back in January 1998, against Spain.

That tally is all the more impressive given the fact that he only featured as a substitute in 21 of his first 30 games.

A World Cup and European Championship winner with France in 1998 and 2000, he has also won two French and two Italian league titles in his career.

In 2002, he finished as top scorer in Serie A, though this season has been a frustrating one for him, having missed the majority of the campaign with a shoulder campaign before his eventual return in mid-January.

Meanwhile, the FAI has been informed by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) that the World Cup qualifier on October 8 will take place in the GSP Stadium in Nicosia.

The CFA has stated that the kick-off time will be confirmed at a later date but will be either 8pm or 9pm local time.