Santini knows he can rest players if Croatia beaten

FRANCE coach Jacques Santini knows victory in their second Euro 2004 match against Croatia today would allow him the luxury of resting key players for their final group game.

Zinedine Zidane's injury-time double against England got the champions off to a dramatic winning start on Sunday and another three points against Croatia would put Santini's team through to the quarter-finals from Group B.

"With a success on Thursday, we will be through," he said. "It's what the figures say. As Croatia and Switzerland drew in their first match, only one of them can make seven points at best. With six, we are qualified," he said.