France v South Korea - Preview

It's time for France to show her true face

Anything less than victory against table toppers South Korea on Sunday will leave France perilously close to crashing out of the first round for the second successive World Cup.

A drab goalless draw in their opener against Switzerland has left Raymond Domenech's 1998 champions tied for second in Group G, two points behind the 2002 semi-finalists.

Central to France's plight is her impotent attack which has not hit the mark at the World Cup now since the 3-0 triumph over Brazil in the final in Paris eight years ago.

Thierry Henry was deployed as a lone striker against the Swiss on Tuesday and Domenech must decide whether to stick with that or team up Arsenal's record goalscorer with either David Trezeguet or Louis Saha.

nother conundrum facing him is whether to persist with Frank Ribery, the young midfielder from Marseille who failed to replicate his dazzling performances in France's three warm-up wins.

Trezeguet broke ranks last week and called for Domenech, who has Lyon's fit again midfielder Florent Malouda back at his disposal, to adopt a more aggressive style.

"It's my opinion that we have to push forward, we've got all the attributes to do that.

"Brazil don't ask themselves any questions, they just do it," the Juventus star said.

French soccer forward David Trezeguet gives a press conference at the Rattenfanger Halle in Hameln 11 June 2006 ahead of the Fifa World Cup 2006. France is in group G with Switzerland, Korean Republic and Togo, and will play 13 June in Stuttgart against Switzerland their opening match at the tournament. AF P PHOTO/ PASCAL PAVANI/PP

Domenech himself wants to see his predominantly thirtysomething side, the only one of the eight seeds not to kick off with a win, raise their game from the solid yet unspectacular offering served up in Stuttgart.

"I want us to be more adventurous - I want to set the dogs free against Korea," he said.

He added: "The Korean match has now turned into a very important one where we have to score."

One positive from the Swiss draw was the showing of Zinedine Zidane who looked a lot sharper than in the run up to Germany.

But a bizarre booking for taking a free-kick too hastily means the midfield maestro who is making his final curtain call before retirement here will have to watch out if he is not to miss what could be his last appearance for his country against Togo next week.

Despite France's predicament South Korea coach Dick Advocaat is not blind to the potential havoc Zidane, Henry and company could wreak.

"We have heard a lot of stories about France but that team has so much quality," he commented.

"In principle, if they play the way they can play, it will be very difficult for us."

Advocaat is expected to play a defensive 4-3-3 formation designed to hit France on the break through talismanic striker Ahn Jung-Hwan, who came off the bench to grab the winner against Togo, or Manchester United attacking midfielder Park Ji-Sung.

"Hopefully France has not a good day and we have a very good day. That is what I hope," said the former Dutch coach.

"It is quite simple - everybody expects that France will win, so there is no reason for our team to be nervous. They just have to go out and play their game."

Teams

France

Fabien Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Sylvain Wiltord, Zinedine Zidane (capt), Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry: Coach: Raymond Domenech

South Korea

Lee Woon-Jae (capt), Kim Young-Chul, Kim Dong-Jin, Choi Jin-Cheul, Lee Young-Pyo, Lee Ho, Kim Nam-Il, Lee Eul-Yong, Park Ji-Sung, Lee Chun-Soo, Cho Jae-Jin: Coach: Dick Advocaat

Referee

Benito Archundia (MEX)