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France, Spain down to last game to qualify
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-10 09:00
LONDON (AP) _ France and Spain are down to their last World Cup qualifying
matches, and neither is guaranteed of an automatic berth even with a win.
France, Switzerland and Ireland are all capable of winning Group 4, with
unbeaten Israel still in the hunt for the second-place playoff spot.
The 1998 champions host Cyprus on Wednesday, while Switzerland goes to
Ireland. Israel, which has played all its games, will find out if it clinched a
spot in the playoffs on the Holy day of Yom Kippur.
France can win the group with a victory if Switzerland does not win in
Dublin. The Swiss can take the group with a win or draw, as long as France draws
or loses.
Ireland needs to win and hope France loses or draws.
France coach Raymond Domenech remembers the last time the team failed to
qualify for the World Cup. The French needed only a draw from two home games to
qualify for the 1994 finals in the United States - but lost both.
After a 3-2 loss to Israel, France lost to Bulgaria 2-1, with Emil Kostadinov
scoring with the last kick of the game at Parc des Princes.
"I went into the dressing room after the (Bulgaria) match _ it was
atrocious," said Domenech, who was in charge of the under-21 team at the time.
"I saw people who were crushed. I still remember it. I don't want to relive it."
France defender Willy Sagnol is available for selection after serving a
one-match suspension and could replace Anthony Reveillere at right fullback.
Claude Makelele is suspended.
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