France wary of wounded Ireland pride

PARIS: France, tantalizingly close to a World Cup berth after a precious 1-0 win in Dublin, are wary of an Ireland backlash in the return leg of their playoff in Paris on Wednesday.

A heated exchange on the Croke Park pitch after Saturday's first leg and media reports of a pre-match rift in the France camp have contributed to a strained atmosphere in the build-up to the Stade de France showdown.

Both incidents were played down by a France side aware that Ireland are famous for their fighting spirit and not taking anything for granted.