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Serbia seeks French connection to SA
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-08 10:46

Serbia seeks French connection to SA

BELGRADE: Serbia will qualify for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa if they beat France at home tomorrow, a result which would also leave the 2006 runners-up struggling even for a playoff spot.

The French, held 1-1 at home by Romania on Saturday, trail European Group Seven leaders Serbia by four points ahead of the clash in the cauldron of Red Star's Marakana stadium.

Serbia have 18 points from seven games while France have 14 and are looking over their shoulders at Austria who moved up to third on 10 points after a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands on Saturday. France host Austria in their final group game next month.

France coach Raymond Domenech, under pressure after an early Euro 2008 exit and a patchy World Cup qualifying run, believes the difficult situation will bring the best out of his side.

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Serbia seeks French connection to SADomenech's fate hangs in balance

"Our goal is to qualify, no matter how, and there are still points to be taken," he said after his team was jeered off the pitch on Saturday.

"It's not my style to let go."

Defender Bacary Sagna said: "We're going to Serbia to win, and if we show the same attitude as against Romania, we are capable of winning there."

France created plenty of chances against Romania but showed rare glimpses of the team which reached the 2006 final in Germany under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane.