CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AP) _ France will be without key players
and its coach Raymond Domenech will be sitting in the stands when
Les Bleus play Italy in a crucial European Championship qualifier.
Defenders William Gallas and Willy Sagnol are both injured, and
captain Patrick Vieira is struggling to overcome a thigh injury to
be ready in time for Saturday's Group B match in Milan's San Siro
stadium.
``William is a mainstay in the team,'' France winger Franck
Ribery said Tuesday. ``He is someone who does a lot of good at the
back. I hope Patrick (Vieira) will be there the day of the match.
He's very important for the group.''
Domenech said Vieira's situation is ``evolving every day'' and
that he is ``optimistic'' the Inter Milan midfielder will be ready.
``If Patrick gives me an hour at the level he did against
Slovakia, that suits me,'' Domenech said.
Domenech, meanwhile, will not be in his customary role in the
team dugout.
On Tuesday, UEFA's appeals body upheld a one-match ban imposed on
Domenech for accusing Italy of fixing an Olympic qualifying match in
1999.
UEFA said he brought the game into disrepute by making the
comments in an interview with French daily Le Parisien published
Aug. 9. Domenech was quoted as saying there had been a ``bought
referee'' for a match between France's youth squad _ which he
coached _ and Italy during a qualifier for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
``The coach is very important,'' Ribery said at France's training
camp in Clairefontaine. ``To see him in the dressing room, to know
that he is there with us. We will just have to deal with it.''
Domenech said his absence could help the team pull closer
together.
``I think it could be an interesting experience,'' Domenech said.
``If they are able to show they are able to take charge of
themselves on the field.''
France tops Group B with 18 points from seven matches _ including
a 3-1 home win over Italy a year ago. Domenech will be back on the
touchline for Wednesday's home match against Scotland, the only team
to have beaten Les Bleus in the group so far.
``For me, the most important match is Scotland,'' Domenech said.
``If we don't beat Scotland, it's bad for us.''
Two wins would put France in a commanding position by distancing
its main rivals.
``To take at least four points would be good,'' Ribery said. ``A
draw in Italy and to beat Scotland. They (Italy), have to beat us
... we need to get a point to stay in control of our group.''
If Vieira fails to recover in time, Arsenal midfielder Lassana
Diarra could win his fourth cap in central midfield, where he would
likely be up against Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.
``They will want to beat us,'' Diarra said Tuesday. ``It's true
that the pressure is on them. Right from the start we will have to
show we're present. They will want to score quickly. It will be a
real physical combat.''
In the absence of Gallas, who has a groin injury, Barcelona
defender Eric Abidal could play alongside veteran Lilian Thuram at
center half and Julien Escude may take Abidal's customary position
at left back.
Escude said it will be essential that France stays vigilant.
``We know the Italian game,'' Escude said. ``They wait for the
right moment, find the weakness.''
