France keep faith in Barthez

FABIEN BARTHEZ remains coach Jacques Santini’s first-choice goalkeeper for France’s Euro 2004 Group One qualifier against Cyprus on Saturday, despite his lack of match practice.

Barthez has yet to play in the English premier league this season after being usurped at Manchester United by new American keeper Tim Howard.

“Fabien knows he is going to start against Cyprus,” Santini told reporters at the French training camp in Clairefontaine yesterday.