February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
It looks like it will be a long slog for the former world champions as they regroup under new coach Raymond Domenech following the retirement of inspirational players such as Zinedane Zidane and Marcel Desailly.
Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira, wearing the captain’s armband previously donned by Desailly, was one of several French players who failed to convert the numerous scoring opportunities carved out by Les Bleus.
Vieira’s chance was probably the best, a header from a Jerome Rothen corner that was cleared off the line by Ben Haim, with goalie Nir Davidovitch beaten.
Chelsea defender William Gallas, his clubmate Claude Makalele, Manchester United forward Louis Saha and Thierry Henry also failed to connect when put through.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult group and not to win at home isn’t an ideal start,” the lanky Vieira conceded after the match, watched by 43,500 fans at the Stade de France.
Domenech seemed undeterred by the result. “The more matches we play, the more we’ll get stuck in,” he said.
Domenech can expect his first win in three matches today when France take on a Faroe Islands side demolished 6-0 by Switzerland in Basel at the weekend — a result that put the Swiss atop Group 4.
The Swiss players to watch out for when Ireland visit Basel today are 18-year-old South American-born forward Johan Vonlanthen, who netted a hat trick against the Faroe Islands (10th, 14th, 57th), and Alexander Rey, who accounted for the other three (29th, 44th, 55th).
“It was a strong performance and a good win in the opening game of the group,’ said Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn, whose men broke a four-game winless streak.
In the other Group 4 match today, Cyprus move from the cauldron of Lansdowne Road — where Clinton Morrison (33rd), Andy Reid (38th) and Robbie Keane, with his Irish record equaling 21st goal (55th pen.) inflicted a 3-0 drubbing — to Tel Aviv for an early make-or-break tussle with the Israelis.
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