2010 WCQ PLAY-OFF:THE FRENCH press and footballing community yesterday gave a cautious welcome to the news that France will face Ireland in next month's World Cup play-offs.
While the French Football Federation made it clear they had wanted to avoid a trip to Ukraine, many commentators had suggested a two-legged tie against Giovanni Trapattoni’s side – with the second leg taking place at Croke Park – would have been the worst draw possible.
French sports daily L’Equipe reiterated that opinion before yesterday’s draw and noted that Raymond Domenech does not usually fare too well when he comes up against an Italian adversary.
After finishing the qualifiers strongly, there is a growing confidence that the current French side have turned a corner. But yesterday the overriding feeling was a sense of relief that the second leg would take place at the Stade de France.
“Yes, that’s the most important thing,” the French Football Federation’s technical director Gérard Houllier said. “The first match could almost be decisive in terms of qualification. I think the atmosphere will be extraordinary in the second game, with a lot of tension. In the last few games, against Romania, Serbia, the Faroe Isles and Austria, the team and the supporters have reconnected.”
The former Liverpool manager said it was “a bad draw” for both teams but he maintained that Domenech’s side would know what to expect from Ireland.
“Everyone knows about their spirit. Their players are winners and very competitive. They have a squad that’s able to put a lot of life into a match. But I’m sure there will be moments that we can take advantage of. They have Giovanni Trapattoni, who is a great tactician, and a tremendous crowd behind them.”
When pressed on whether France would be the favourites, however, he was less forthcoming.
“I want to say yes but over two matches, anything is possible. For me, it’s going to be a 50-50 game.”
There is significant pressure on this crop of French players to recapture some of the spirit of a decade ago, and one of the key figures of that period, the 1998 World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps, also stressed the importance of playing the second leg in Paris.
“It’s good to have the second game at home,” the Marseille manager said. “Ireland did stay unbeaten in their qualifying group, which included Italy. Les Bleus should be wary but we already have some good memories of this team.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires, who played in the scoreless draw against Ireland at the Stade de France in 2004, said they would provide difficult opposition. “I think we’ll suffer until the very last second,” he said. “Because you know what the English style of football is like – they play right to the last minute. Ireland proved that by giving Italy trouble, so we have to be careful and pay attention.”
Pires said Trapattoni could also play a key role. “He’s someone who knows the game very well, so that’s one of the advantages Ireland have.”
Nevertheless, the Villarreal star still feels France will have enough class to qualify. “The players will know that it’ll be a very difficult game, especially over there because the stadium is big and the atmosphere is hostile. But when you look at the team that we have, we should still qualify.”
Former Leeds and Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt, who played in midfield in the 2006 World Cup qualifier in Paris, agreed with his former team-mate.
“It’s not an easy draw but at the same time France are good enough to go through,” he said. “All the more so since Ireland are very afraid of them after the last games. It’ll be a real battle where they’ll need to respond physically and then assert their superior technical ability.”
