Zidane the key, says Wenger

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes France were already thinking ahead to Dublin during the second half of Saturday’s Group 4 victory over the Faroe Islands in Lens.

Says Wenger: "We saw in the second-half (against the Faroes) that France had a restricted game because Wednesday is the test to show where France really are on the international stage. An away game, World Cup qualification at stake this game is so big in the head of France's players that against the Faroes in the second-half they stopped playing.

"What will France need to win in Dublin? We'll need a good Zidane and Thierry Henry because they make the difference up front, while to win the battle in the middle of the park Makelele will be vital. France must dominate more in the air than they did against the Faroes who had two or three chances in the first-half. On crosses we struggled a little bit."

Those concerns aside, Wenger is clear that the return of the Fab Three is a major boost for the French.

"Zidane and Makelele in particular have brought back a confidence when France have the ball," said the Arsenal boss. "I thought Zidane was very sharp last Saturday. For me, his comeback has transformed the team and the hope in the country. You could see against the Faroes when Zidane left the game (in the 58th minute) that we were not the same team. A characteristic of the big players is to make everybody play better and Zidane is just at the age when he keeps that quality. He still has the skill plus that generous attitude that comes with maturity to make those around him perform better."

Meanwhile, France's Newcastle defender Jean Alain Boumsong rates that the game against Ireland as the biggest of the group for his country.

"We know we will be playing away against a good team," he said. "We know Ireland is very, very good and that their fans are fantastic.

Our aim is to win every one of the last three games, even if we know that in Dublin it is going to be difficult.

"I think because they are playing at home in front of their own fans, they will try to intimidate. They will start the game with a good rhythm and a good pace. But we also know that we are a good team and they will combine that with their tactical game, which is good."

Asked his opinion on the much-anticipated bout between Vieira and Keane, Boumsong declines to fan the flames of hype.

"It's not going to be a match between Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane," he says. "It's a match between Ireland and France. It's an important football game and of course both sides will play to win it. We will play with a fighting spirit, of course, but we have to remember it's a game of football and respect the rules of the game."

He also understands the potential significance for both sides of Damien Duff getting a clean bill of health.

"Everyone knows that he is one of the best left-wingers in the Premiership and even in the world so he is a very, very dangerous player to mark and a very, very good player for

Ireland.

"We will face a lot of battles around the pitch Sagnol against Damien Duff, Vieira against Roy Keane. They will be everywhere.

"But we know that it's going to be a very tough game and we will play together. Maybe one of our players will lose his battle, but we can battle through it together."

And what about the Irish strengths?

"They are not afraid, they play with a great passion," says Boumsong. "I think they have improved as a football team and most of their players play with big clubs so they have the experience. They know how to play against a good team and in front of big crowds. It makes them very strong."