Desailly says Uruguay will "cheat" (Allsport).

By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Seoul

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Marcel Desailly today warned France to beware of Uruguay "cheating" their way to victory next week.

France, licking their wounds after being mauled by Senegal in the opening fixture of the World Cup, have to beat Uruguay in the southern Korean city of Busan on Thursday to keep hopes of qualification from Group A alive.

Chelsea defender Desailly believes France were out-muscled by the Senegalese, who won 1-0, but that the threat from the South Americans will take a different form.

He said: "They will be less physical than Senegal but Uruguay will cheat a lot. We have to win the match, it is as simple as that."

No side has ever lost their first match and gone on to win the World Cup, but that statistic does not worry Desailly.

He added: "I know it has never happened, but no one had ever won the European Championships after the World Cup until we did it.

"We have the possibility to believe we can do it because there are still two games to play, but we are not thinking about winning the World Cup any more - just about qualifying for the second round."

The absence of Zinedine Zidane, the creative heartbeat of the side, was crucial against Senegal and coach Roger Lemerre conceded his replacement Youri Djorkaeff had not been able to fill his boots, while Christophe Dugarry - who came on as substitute with 30 minutes left - had also been unable to make the difference.

Zidane, still suffering from a thigh injury, remains extremely doubtful for Thursday's encounter, though French team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret has said: "It isn't impossible that he will play against Uruguay, but we won't take any risks.

"The injury is coming along and the next two or three day will be key."

Lemerre, however, said: "I would be astonished if Zidane came back for the match against Uruguay. He has not even started training with the team again and the game is only four days away.

"But there is no dependence on Zidane in this side - the players depend on themselves and not only on him.

"Djorkaeff struggled against Senegal and up until 60 minutes there was nothing to say and the time comes when you have to react."

If Lemerre was frank about Djorkaeff's performance, he was less so about his defenders, insisting he was happy with the partnership Desailly and Frank Leboeuf despite the pair having been run ragged by Senegal's fleet-footed striker El Hadji Diouf.

The French coach said: "I thought Desailly and Leboeuf worked well together.

"It was not the speed of Diouf which posed a problem but his great intelligence. Sure, he's fast but he has a footballing mind too."

Uruguay will have taken note of Senegal's tactics, which was to pack the midfield and invite France to advance, leaving Liverpool's new striker Diouf to use his speed and skill on the break.

It was the same plan that France had entered the match with, according to Desailly, but one they could not stick to.

Desailly said: "At the beginning of the game we said that we are going to stay in our own half and hope that Senegal come forward and leave space behind them, as we have players who are quick like Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord.

"Of course, we were not able to do this and they defended very well. We have to change things for the next too games and make sure we win."