TNT Sports
France cautiously upbeat
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Published 03/09/2005 at 05:30 GMT+1
France, in an upbeat mood since the return of inspirational playmaker Zinedine Zidane, will not take anything for granted when they host the Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. Follow full coverage Saturday's qualifers starting at 16:00 CET.
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In the tightly-bunched Group Four, France lie fourth with 10 points from six games, with leaders Ireland, who they play in Dublin on Wednesday, on 13 points from seven games.
Switzerland are second with 12 points from six games, with Israel third on 11 points from seven games.
France know they cannot afford to slip up and have set themselves the task of winning their remaining qualifiers for next year's event in Germany.
They are away to Switzerland and at home to Cyprus in their last two matches next month.
"We don't have any time left for experiments," said coach Raymond Domenech. "There are four matches to play and we have to win them all. It's as simple as that.
"We will have to play each one of them like they are cup finals. We must not consider that some are easier than others. They are all worth three points."
With Zidane back in the squad, the former World and European champions look more confident and solid.
The influential midfielder scored in the 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in a friendly last month -- their most convincing win since Domenech took over from Jacques Santini after Euro 2004.
Many view Wednesday's qualifier against Ireland as do-or-die, but Domenech warned his players against underestimating the Faroes, who are bottom of the group with just one point.
France struggled to beat the Faroes 2-0 in Torshavn last September, when they played most of the second half with 10 men after captain Patrick Vieira was sent off.
FAILURE UNFORGIVABLE
"They will come here hoping for a shock result," Domenech said. "We must remember that we suffered a lot in the first leg there.
"We have reviewed the tape of the match and there were many situations in which we looked anything but comfortable. They put us under a lot of pressure and we were lucky to win."
Defender Willy Sagnol said failure to beat the Faroes would be unforgivable.
"It's our duty to win as it's our duty to qualify for the World Cup," he said, while fellow defender William Gallas said defeat or a draw would be "a professional blunder".
"It would mean that we didn't prepare properly for this match," he said.
"There will be no lack of respect on our part but there will be no leniency either."
Vieira is back in midfield after missing the victory over Ivory Coast because of injury.
Domenech opted to pair Djibril Cisse, rather than Sylvain Wiltord, in attack with Thierry Henry.
Cisse hit two goals to help Liverpool beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 in the European Supercup last week.
France: 23-Gregory Coupet, 19-Willy Sagnol, 15-Lilian Thuram, 2-Jean-Alain Boumsong, 5-William Gallas, 6-Claude Makelele, 4-Patrick Vieira, 7-Florent Malouda, 10-Zinedine Zidane, 9-Djibril Cisse, 12-Thierry Henry.
Faroe Islands: Jakup Mikkelsen; Oli Johannesen, Mortan Horg, Jon Roi Jacobsen, Suni Olsen, Frodi Benjaminsen, Ingi Hojsted, Jakup Borg, Claus Bech Jorgensen, Todi Jonsson, Andrew Flotum
Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech Republic)
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