Thuram suffered a thigh injury in training (Allsport)
FRANCE PUTTING LOTS OF LEG WORK
By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Seoul
Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for France team section
Click here for more World Cup news
Metatarsals may have been the weak points in England's World Cup build-up but
as far as France are concerned, the thigh's the limit.
No fewer than three players in Roger Lemerre's squad, including of course
Zinedine Zidane, have fallen victim to thigh injuries.
Youri Djorkaeff and Lilian Thuram are the latest casualties with 'blessures de
cuisse', and what are thighs of relief as far as Uruguay are concerned are
becoming something of a headache to Lemerre.
Thuram suffered a painful blow on his upper leg in training on Monday but
should have recovered in time to play, though France have a ready-made
replacement in Roma's Vincent Candela if the bruising does not subside.
Djorkaeff is almost certainly out - though he might have been dropped anyway,
such was the Bolton forward's poor display in the 1-0 defeat by Senegal - and he
accompanied Zidane to hospital for scans on their injuries.
Lemerre is thought to be toying with playing Johan Micoud, who plays for
Parma, in the playmaker role, meaning Christophe Dugarry would once again start
on the bench.
The French camp are refusing to give up on Zidane - the most expensive player
in the world has finally kicked a ball this week as he continues to recover from
a thigh injury - but team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret rates his chances of playing
against Uruguay on Thursday as "small".
Meanwhile, Arsenal's Patrick Vieira insisted France must not let slip the
chance to make history by retaining the World Cup.
Vieira said: "We do not want to bow out of the competition without a fight.
"You cannot say the French team is finished after a single match - but all
the same we are in a difficult position.
"We should realise that we have an extraordinary team and we must not let
slip the opportunity to make history and we must put right the the things that
went wrong against Senegal."
|
