Cisse, Thuram French casualties

THE COMFORTABLE 3-0 victory against the Faroe Islands in Lens on Saturday night may have helped put the smile back on the face of French football but at the local club’s training centre in nearby Avion yesterday, manager Raymond Domenech was counting the physical cost of a game which saw France draw level with Ireland and Switzerland atop what is literally the group of four.

Djibril Cisse, who scored twice and had a third effort deflected into the net by Suni Olsen, is extremely doubtful for Wednesday's game at Lansdowne Road with a twisted ankle. Defender Lilian Thuram, forced out of Saturday's action with a dead leg, is another of France's walking wounded and has a 50-50 chance to play against Ireland.

But the good news for France and the bad news for Ireland is that, despite taking a hefty knock which needed an ice pack to his calf muscle after he was taken off on the hour mark, Zinedine Zidane will be fit to play at Lansdowne Road.

The number ten's impact on what they are calling, perhaps a little prematurely, the French Renaissance, was clear from well before the starting whistle in the Stade Bollaert on Saturday. In the continental style, the stadium announcer called out the first names of the French team and allowed the crowd to add the second. The likes of Henry and Vieira got a good response but when he got to the word "Zinedine", they were followed by a roar of "Zidane" so deafening it could have been heard back in Dublin.

For the hour he was on the pitch, Zidane lived up to all expectations, his every flick, trick, dribble and pass eliciting gasps of approval from an adoring audience. "Zizou, Zizou" they chanted and, rightly so, because when he was replaced by the promising but inexperienced Vikash Dhorasoo, France looked a much less potent force.

There may also be encouragement for Ireland in the defensive uncertainty which saw Cluas Bech Jorgensen's powerful header force Gregory Coupet to save low at his post as the visitors came close to grabbing a shock first half equaliser.

Newcastle's Jean-Alain Bounsong seemed particularly vulnerable under the Faroes' booming crosses and with Thuram at least a doubt for Wednesday, the centre of France's defence will be a cause of concern for Domenech. He may also have misgivings about Florent Malouda who, despite doing some good work on the left, was extremely wasteful any time he got within sight of goal.

If Cisse is out, Domenech will go back to his original plan of playing Thierry Henry in front of Zidane with Sylvain Wiltord on the right, and Dhorasoo who can play on either side perhaps replacing Malouda on the left. If Thuram doesn't make it, Sebastien Squillachi will start in his place. Whatever the formation, the mere presence of Zidane will ensure that France go into the game in good heart. But the man himself knows that Les Bleus will have to move up another gear from Saturday night, if they are to get a result in Dublin.

"We scored three goals, we created plenty of chances and we won three-nil, so that's not bad," was his low-key assessment of France's return to competitive victory.

"It was encouraging that we had so many chances but the finishing wasn't always perfect. On Wednesday in Dublin against Ireland, we will have to be more effective in front of goal. I would welcome Ireland putting pressure on us because, with players with the pace of Henry, we can exploit the spaces at the back and be effective on the counter-attack."

Patrick Vieira is also relishing the challenge in Dublin and the prospect of renewing his old acquaintance with Roy Keane.

"I have been asked about this three or four times already," he grinned, when talking to the press after Saturday's game. "It's exciting. He is someone I really respect. He is one of the best players in his position. But there are so many good players on the pitch that I don't think our head to head will make the difference in the game."

As to that little "disagreement" in the tunnel last season, Vieira just shrugged, flashed his biggest smile and said, "That's a part of the game, you know."

Vieira said he expects that Ireland will show "fighting spirit" and emphasise the "physical aspect" of the game.

"But a few of us have been playing in England for the last few years so we know what to expect," he said, adding, "and we will be ready for that."

And manager Raymond Domenech declared: "We won't go to Dublin for a scoreless draw. We will try to score as we always do."

FRANCE: Coupet, Thuram (Squillaci 76), Boumsong, Gallas, Sagnol, Zidane (Dhorasoo 58), Vieira, Makelele, Cisse, Henry (Wiltord 67), Malouda.

FAROE ISLANDS: Mikkelsen, Horg (Christian Hogni Jacobsen 56), Oli Johannesen, Jon Roi Jacobsen, Olsen, Borg, Jorgensen, Jonsson (Rogvi Jacobsen 67), Benjaminsen, Flotum, Hojsted.

Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech Republic).