New lineup shows Marseille title ambitions

MARSEILLE, France: A new-look Olympique Marseille start the new French League One season on August 8 with a lineup capable of challenging Bordeaux for the championship, but chief coach Didier Deschamps knows the imminence of the World Cup could prove a major distraction.

A preseason friendly on July 21 which ended in a 2-1 defeat by the French champions, gave Deschamps an idea of how difficult it is likely to be to build a cohesive side from a squad comprising so many internationals, likely to be preoccupied by selection for their countries at the South African soccer fest.

Following the death of Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus at the beginning of July and the linked departure of popular club chairman Pape Diouf, it has been a period of re-assessment at the Stade Velodrome.