PARIS - France enters the World Cup with a goalkeeper controversy.

Third-string goalkeeper Mickael Landreau claims he is not taking sides in the rift between first choice Fabien Barthez and No. 2 Gregory Coupet but admits Les Bleus are still talking about it.

Landreau, who has just moved from Nantes to Paris St Germain, is unlikely to play in the World Cup but admits the bust-up between Coupet and coach Raymond Domenech at the Alpine resort of Tignes last week has had its effect.

Coupet was already dismayed that Barthez had been installed as No. 1 for the World Cup but when the 34-year-old Barthez refused to complete a mountain climb with his teammates and then chose to eat alone, the Lyon shot-stopper blew his top.

The 33-year-old and his family left the Alpine compound but returned within an hour and Domenech declared the incident closed.

However, Landreau admitted it wasn't closed as far as the players were concerned.

"We feel like we are on a reality TV program because everyone is looking at Coupet and everyone is looking at Barthez," he said. "Everyone has spoken about this story. We are still talking about it in the squad.

"Lilian Thuram said that something would happen. Thuram said that from the moment he arrived it would come to a head because Coupet wants to start."

Landreau refuses to take sides, however, and realizes the team needs to move on.

"One week from the World Cup we need to stop saying who is No. 1 and No. 2 because it's over now," he said. "Fabien seems to have detached himself from this story so that he feels ready for the first match."

France's players have heard boos from their own fans in the buildup to the World Cup. But defender Jean-Alain Boumsong is confident the team will find success at the tournament.

Domenech and his men attempt to regain the trophy they won the last time the world's top soccer prize was staged in Europe.

France had friendly wins over Mexico and Denmark, but during a 1-0 win over Mexico, Zidane, Barthez and Vikash Dhorasoo were jeered by the fans.

"We are working well in training and there is a good atmosphere and lots of French people behind us despite what happened at the Stade de France against Mexico," said the Cameroon-born Boumsong said. "We have had two good weeks of preparation. We will be ready for the first (World Cup) match.

France will play its first Group G match against Switzerland on June 13. The other Group G teams are Korea and Togo.

Much of the attention has been on Zinedine Zidane, who is making his final appearances for France. Zidane, who turns 34 on June 23, announced this season at Madrid he would not play beyond Germany 2006.

The 26-year-old Boumsong does not think the team's fate hinges on the form of Zidane.

"Zidane is very important for us but we can also go far without him," said Boumsong.