BERLIN, June 23 - France need to end their long run without a World Cup win
on Friday to avoid going home early again and give playmaker Zinedine Zidane the
chance of another international before he retires after the finals.
Raymond Domenech's side, without Zidane and defender Eric Abidal through
suspension, have kept up the suspense until their last Group G match and now
need to beat Togo by two clear goals in Cologne.
It is a manageable task but their already-eliminated opponents are desperate
to bow out by showing there is more to them than behind-the-scenes turmoil.
France were in exactly the same situation four years ago when they needed to
beat Denmark by two goals. They lost and were sent packing early.
Les Bleus have not won a World Cup match since lifting the trophy on home
soil eight years ago.
Switzerland, top of the group with one of the youngest squads in the
tournament, only need to draw against South Korea in Hanover on Friday to
advance.
The Koreans need a victory to go through.
The winners of the section take on the runners-up of Group H, who could be
any one of four teams but is unlikely to be leaders Spain, who are up against
Saudi Arabia in Kaiserslautern.
UNLIKELY VICTORY
Anything but an unlikely victory by several goals over Spain would mean the
Saudis are out.
Second-place Ukraine face a stern test against Tunisia in Berlin. The North
Africans gave the group leaders a fright earlier this week, taking an early lead
before Spain fought back to win 3-1.
In Thursday's games, debutants Ghana became only the fifth African team to
advance from the group stages in the history of the tournament after beating
United States 2-1.
Three-times champions Italy also advanced from Group E after a 2-0 win over
Czech Republic.
Striker Ronaldo equalled Gerd Mueller's World Cup finals record of 14 goals,
scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Japan as Brazil won Group F.
Harry Kewell secured second spot for Australia, netting a late equaliser in a
2-2 draw with Croatia, who finished the match with nine men.
