Pressure is 'internal': Domenech

Raymond Domenech has told France’s players the pressure must come from within for their make-or-break World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland.

France travel to Dublin for the first leg on Saturday, with the second match in Paris a week today as the teams compete for a place in South Africa.

Domenech has been under immense pressure following France’s poor group campaign, where they lost out to Serbia for the automatic qualifying spot.

The 1998 world champions are likely to face a tough night at Croke Park, Ireland having impressed under coach Giovanni Trapattoni.

The France coach said on www.fff.fr: “Saturday is not very far. The match is coming up little by little. I don’t want it (the pressure) to build up.

“The pressure – well, it’s internal. If the players don’t have it inside them, which is what I told them at the outset, it means we’re cheating ourselves, that we’ve got nothing to do here.

“It’s not worth insisting on it. There are matches which don’t need external pressure. It’s here – the players want to go to the World Cup.

“If they are not motivated, prepared and don’t have the desire to put themselves in the right conditions ... well, I’m sorry, there’s nothing more to add. They are ready. It’s not worth adding an excess of pressure.”

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra joined up with the squad after playing in the Copa Del Rey last night, but Abou Diaby and Jeremy Toulalan are doubtful.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had ruled Diaby out of contention after he injured his calf against Wolves last weekend, but the France medical staff declared him fit to stay with the squad.

Meanwhile, former France captain Zinedine Zidane is expecting Les Bleus to triumph after a tough battle – and has called on the fans to get behind their national side.

“This will be particularly difficult, because it will be a fight there (in Ireland),” said the 37-year-old. “We’ll have to resist – and after that will be the match in France. But I’m confident.

“I am confident because there is a good team there who need the backing of France. So we must all be calm and all get behind them.”