Desailly doubtful for France

France will decide on Thursday if central defender Marcel Desailly will be fit to pl;ay in the Euro 2000 decider against Iceland on Saturday.

The Chelsea defender injured thigh ligaments in the early stages of the 1-0 Champions league win for the London club last week against Galatasary and missed the 5-0 win over manchester United two days ago.

Desailly has joined the French squad but did not train today and is to also rest tomorrow before a decision is made on his fitness for the game that France need to win.

French players this morning told press men that an early goal was vital against the Iceland team as the World Cup winners from last year have to make up ground on both Ukraine and Russia who meet in Moscow. The French must hope that Ukraine produce an away draw against a Russian side trying for their seventh straight Euro 2000 victory if they are to win an automatic qualifying place from Group Four but a place in the November play-offs seems a more realistic prospect if either Russia or Ukraine can win in Moscow.