Djorkaeff set to replace injured Zidane

France coach Roger Lemerre is likely to use Youri Djorkaeff in place of injured superstar Zinedine Zidane as the World Cup finals kick-off tomorrow.

The Seoul game against Senegal will see the holders without the inspirational Zidane who has a thigh strain.

Djorkaeff - on loan at Bolton from Kaiserslautern - said Madrid star Zidane is "irreplaceable" but is the preferred option of Lemerre who also considered Johan Micoud of Parma and Bordeaux's Christophe Dugarry in the free midfield role behind the strikers.

"I've played in the midfield role when he's been missing before," Djorkaeff said.

"But I've never been in the French team to replace anyone.

"Zidane is irreplaceable. I've never come into a match saying 'I'm playing in place of so-and-so'. I've got enough international selections under my belt to be worth my place," claimed the 34 year old veteran who helped France win the World Cup four years ago.

"It's no problem to me whether I play in the midfield, on the right or the left. The most important thing is to play."

Coach Roger Lemerre backed his players to buck a recent trend and start their campaign as title hlders with a win which has only happened twice since 1974.

"We have done everything possible to prepare. Since the start of May we have worked to be at our optimum level," Lemerre said today.

"The 11 players chosen will be more attentive to their task and more concentrated on it because they know that the French team could be in difficulty without Zidane at some time or another."

Lemerre refused to confirm Djorkaeff as a starter in place of Zidane but that is expected to happen:

"To be frank, Zidane cannot be replaced, but I feel calm about the whole thing," he said.

"It will be a special match, but in the end the most important thing is the match and not the opening of the tournament. But of course it is a privilege.

"The Senegalese know the mentality, the customs, and the technical nature of the French game. It will be almost like a French league match apart from the fact that it will be two national teams," he observed.