Togo v France - Preview

Zidane-less France gunning for Togo

France go into their concluding Group G fixture against already eliminated Togo with their World Cup destiny still in their own hands - just.

The 1998 champions, weakened by the absence of suspended captain Zinedine Zidane and Eric Abidal, need to beat Otto Pfister's African debutants by a margin of two goals on Friday to ensure their passage to the last 16.

A one goal difference would leave them praying for an outright winner from the other group game between Switzerland and South Korea.

Anything less and they'll be heading back to Paris.

They take on the Togolese amid accusations of dodgy refereeing from coach Raymond Domenech and speculation of a fall-out between him and Zidane, whose place in midfield is destined to go to Frank Ribery.

But the coach insisted their relationship was fine.

"It's pure speculation, it's been two years now that you've talked about that," he told a press conference.

"What do you want me to say? We talk together, we speak about the team, what's going on. Everyone does their job, he does his well, everyone works for the team so that we can go as far as possible together.

Tackled on Zidane's evident anger at his 91st minute substitution in Leipzig the coach remarked: "Find me a player who'd be happy to leave the pitch with a game hanging like that.

France, without a win in the competition since the 3-0 triumph over Brazil in the final eight years ago, ended their World Cup goal famine stretching back to that night at the Stade de France against South Korea.

And with scoring all important, Domenech could return to a twin-pronged attack he favoured in France's warm-ups by teaming Thierry Henry up with either David Trezeguet or Louis Saha.

Despite doom and gloom in the press back home, Domenech is upbeat about their prospects.

"Our future depends on us beating Togo by two goals to go forward, that gives me hope, not pessimism. We're capable of scoring goals."

The French are the only top seeds yet to win.

An uninspiring goalless draw with Switzerland in their opener was followed by a sharper contribution in the 1-1 draw against the Koreans with Patrick Vieira, expected to take over the captaincy on Friday, having a goal disallowed.

That decision coupled with others triggered an angry outburst from Domenech over what he perceived to be unfair treatment of his team by referees.

"I can't accept the repeated mistakes from the referees we've had. We haven't had one decision in our favour in our two games, it's not balanced and has cost us dearly."

A tortuous row over unpaid bonuses has dogged Togo's first World Cup appearance and in the circumstances they produced a valiant display in their 2-0 loss to the Swiss on Monday, and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after their one world class player Emmanuel Adebayor was felled in the box.

The former French colony's keeper, Kossi Agassa, insists Togo won't be turning up to make up the numbers with his team anxious to put the damaging dispute over money behind them and leave Germany with their heads held high.

"We hope to play with pride and give a performance that will show our football in a positive way," Agassa said.

Teams

Togo

Kossi Agassa, Dare Nibombe, Jean-Paul Abalo (capt), Massamasso Tchangai, Yao Aziawonou, Cherif Toure Mamam, Emmanuel Adebayor, Moustapha Salifou, Mohamed Kader, Richmond Forson, Yao Junior Senaya. Coach: Otto Pfister

France

Fabian Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Patrick Vieira (capt), Claude Makelele, Frank Ribery, Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet. Coach: Raymond Domenech

Referee

Jorge Larrionda (URU)