French to come out with all guns blazing

French coach Roger Lemerre has picked Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Sylvain Wiltord and Youri Djorkaeff in a formidable looking starting line-up for the opening match in Group A at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Djorkaeff, who ended the season at Bolton, has been handed the onerous task of replacing the injured Zinedine Zidane, while Henry and Wiltord had been detailed to slot in on the left and right flanks respectively.

Frank Leboeuf, the former Chelsea defender now at Marseille, is the only member of the starting XI playing club football in his home country.

By contrast every single one of the Senegal side, and nine of the substitutes, were from French clubs.

Senegal are making their World Cup finals debut, with striker El Hadji Diouf and midfielder Khalilou Fadiga the creative hearts of the team.