Cyprus v France: Troubled France hope the return of captain Patrick Vieira from suspension to face Cyprus this evening will kick-start their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Arsenal midfielder missed the goalless draw at the Stade de France where the home side failed to impress with Roma's Olivier Dacourt and Bordeaux newcomer Rio Mavuba dominated by Roy Keane and Kevin Kilbane in midfield.
"You can't replace a player like Vieira by snapping your fingers," coach Raymond Domenech said. "When the leader of your team is sitting in the tribune you always find yourself in a more complicated situation."
Vieira was handed a one-match ban after being sent off in the 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands last month.
With Vieira back, France are eyeing a victory in Nicosia to compensate for the points dropped at home against Israel in September and against Brian Kerr's side on Saturday.
"I hope we will be capable of playing with more confidence and more efficiency," said Domenech. "I don't want to make any forecasts but we need to win in Nicosia.
"We are on five points while we could be on nine. This is not serious but we are aware the situation could turn bad and we need to bounce back swiftly."
Domenech has hinted Thierry Henry will start again today but he may opt for Marseille's Peguy Luyindula instead of Liverpool's Djibril Cisse to partner the Arsenal striker.
The coach might also favour Monaco's Patric Evra at left back instead of Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre.
To add to the French team's problems, World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet yesterday declared "the beautiful adventure", which saw France dominate international football, over.
Jacquet believes that, with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram and Bixente Lizarazu retiring after a disappointing European Championships, their era of success could be over.
"We have been aware for a while that the beautiful adventure for French football is over," Jacquet said. "The team's performance at the 2002 World Cup was a disaster and the latest Euro confirmed the end of a cycle.
Jacquet did, however, defend the new national coach: "Raymond has the personality and competence for the job, even if it was tough for him, as it would have been for any person who starts something new."
Cyprus were minutes away from a shock home defeat against the Faroe Islands on Saturday until a late own goal rescued a 2-2 draw. It was their first point of the campaign having already lost to Ireland and Israel.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
CYPRUS: Panayiotou; Nicolaou, Okkarides, Makrides, Okkas, Charalambides, Constandinou, Charalambous, Georegiou, Elia, Krassas.
FRANCE: Barthez; Gallas, Givet, Squillaci, Evra; Vieira, Dacourt, Pires, Wiltord; Henry, Luyindula.
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)
