Uncertain World Cup Future for Champions France, Favorites

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, June 08, 2002

Uncertain World Cup Future for Champions France, Favorites

With slippery starts at the World Cup finals, world champions France and Argentina are thought by many to be in danger of being eliminated in the first round. There is no way to return.

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With slippery starts at the World Cup finals, world champions France and Argentina are thought by many to be in danger of being eliminated in the first round. There is no way to return.

Argentina's 1-0 defeat by England on Friday left them third in Group F behind Sweden and England with only Nigeria beneath them. Sweden's 2-1 win over Nigeria earlier on Friday put them atop the group and the African side was ousted from the tournament.

In the final group games next Wednesday, Sweden play Argentina and England face seemingly easy opponents Nigerians.

Both Sweden and England have four points, ahead of Argentina onthree and Nigeria none. Sweden, with a goal tally of 3-2, top the group on goals scored, with England (2-1) second.

If Sweden defeat Argentina in Miyagi next Wednesday, the South Americans are out, even if England lose to Nigeria in Osaka.

Argentina also face an uncertain prospect, although they has passed their South American qualifying group losing just one of their 18 matches, scoring 42 goals in the process and finishing 10points clear of second-placed Ecuador.

France are no better either in Group A than Argentina in Group F.

The world champions began their title-defending campaign with a1-0 upset to Senegal in the tournament's opener and were held to a0-0 draw by Uruguay on Thursday.

With Denmark having beaten Uruguay 2-1 in their opener and drawing 1-1 with Senegal, France go into the last of their first round games badly needing a two-goal win over the Danes to be sureof advancing into the second phase.

Denmark (3-2) top the group from Senegal (2-1), with both sideson four points. Uruguay (1-2) and France (0-1) have one point each. The group could end with all four teams finishing with fourpoints as Senegal play Uruguay and France face Denmark next Tuesday.

France have started the World Cup without their talisman Zinedine Zidane, injured in a friendly against South Korea two weeks ago. France have missed his influence badly, and although they played two games without him in the 1998 finals, those matches were in France and they had already built a momentum fueled by millions of home fans.

This time it is different. Not only have France been without Zidane, they have also been without anyone who can score a goal and they did themselves no favors against Uruguay when Thierry Henry was sent off for a bad, late tackle, on Marcelo Romero.

Coach Roger Lemerre's side are also four years older than in 1998 and many of the same players are still in the side. The entire back line of Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Frank Leboeuf and Bixente Lizarazu, as well as goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, playedin both the 1998 World Cup final and the opening match against Senegal.

The French, however, think the other way, of their chances. "There is still hope," said Lemerre after the Uruguay match. "We need to improve against the Danes and beat them -- and that is still possible."

Argentina also need their skipper and talisman Juan Sebastian Veron to regain his fitness and form in the next few days to provehis value.

Like France, Argentina cannot be written off just yet and both could suddenly find their form and go all the way through the tournament. But on the evidence they have both shown so far, theyneed to a hugely improved game.

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