PARIS -- France coach Raymond Domenech believes playing with style is more important than winning matches in the World Cup.

That attitude does little to inspire public confidence after France flopped so dismally four years ago.

Following its exit from the 2004 European Championship quarterfinals, France barely scraped through qualifying for the World Cup, earning its place in the last match after Zinedine Zidane answered Domenech's call and came back for the final four games.

Unlike 2002, when France was among the favorites to defend its title, the aging Zidane will lead a team of firm underdogs next month. Perhaps that suits France best.

In 1998, the team was not considered among the favorites despite home advantage, and went on to win the title by upending Brazil in the final. But it may take an even bigger effort to win in Germany, where the team plays in Group G against Switzerland, South Korea and Togo.

Zidane and Lilian Thuram -- French heroes in '98 -- are at the end of their careers, and doubts persist whether Domenech has the total backing of the team, something Aime Jacquet had eight years ago.

A former soldier in the French-Algerian war, Jacquet was a forthright leader of men. Domenech, a lover of astrology who dabbled in theater and film before becoming France's coach, is a far more ambiguous character.

Heavily criticized after several 0-0 draws, he retorted that scoring goals was "not important" and said qualifying was more important than showing flair.

In a bizarre turnaround, he said the total opposite in a television interview on April 30.

"What I dream about is that at the end of each match, the fans leave the stadium with a smile," Domenech said. "Not necessarily because we're going to win, but because they have felt something.

"Sometimes you can go all the way without giving any pleasure," he added. "You ask yourself, 'Is it not better to have one or two matches which last in the memory?"'

Since Domenech took charge in July 2004, France has lost only one of 18 matches, 2-1 against visiting Slovakia in March. But it struggles to score goals and many questions remain unanswered.

-- Which strikers supplement Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet in attack?

-- Can Trezeguet stay healthy long enough to contribute?

-- Who plays on defense, and where?

-- Does the coach have a list of unfavored players?

Rare certainties appear to be that Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele will all play in midfield, and Domenech has faith in the Henry-Trezeguet partnership in attack.

Fabien Barthez, the starting goalkeeper at the last two World Cups, was chosen for this tournament, too. Lyon's Gregory Coupet had been expected to be the starter, but Domenech stuck with Barthez.

"France is lucky enough to have two world-class goalkeepers," Domenech said.

Other areas of the field appear far more uncertain.

Another unsettling problem within the squad is the exclusion of players like Arsenal's Robert Pires and Johan Micoud of Werder Bremen -- hinting at a Domenech blacklist.

Chelsea defender William Gallas wants to play at center halfback, but Domenech prefers him at left back, where Eric Abidal has been so impressive for French champion Lyon. Gallas also faces a fight at left back from Manchester United's Mickael Silvestre.

Despite Jean-Alain Boumsong's poor season for Newcastle, he could play alongside Thuram at center halfback.

France's defensive quartet -- Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc and Bixente Lizarazu -- formed the backbone of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. Since then, France has struggled to find the same adhesion.

Domenech, like coach Jacques Santini before him, appears no closer to an answer.

But France boasts two strikers who would start on many teams. Trezeguet and Henry have 31 goals for France and stand second on the country's all-time scorers list behind Michel Platini (41).

But since November 2003, when Henry scored one and Trezeguet two in a stunning 3-0 win over Germany, the pair has rarely clicked -- perhaps in part due to Trezeguet's injuries. He has played only six times since Euro 2004 after a shoulder operation and a leg injury.

In qualifying, France mustered only 14 goals in 10 games -- 11 of those against the Faeroe Islands and Cyprus -- with Liverpool's Djibril Cisse scoring four of them.

Domenech hinted that Cisse could be dropped from the starting lineup in favor of Manchester United's Louis Saha.

"Saha has shown the desire to overcome injury and has taken the place of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the (Manchester United) team," Domenech said. "It is impressive."

Mocked for his aversion to players born under the Scorpio star sign -- such as Pires -- Domenech also overlooks Micoud, a regular scorer in the Bundesliga.

France opens against Switzerland on June 13 in Stuttgart. France drew 0-0 and 1-1 with Switzerland in World Cup qualifying, and beat the Swiss 3-1 at Euro 2004 on two goals from Henry.

Following that, Group G games follow against South Korea on June 18 in Leipzig, and Togo on June 23 in Cologne.