Less than friendly look to Domenech's approach

The Republic of Ireland's World Cup rivals France will treat their friendly against Poland tonight like a group qualifier as coach Raymond Domenech bids for his first win at home since replacing Jacques Santini after they lost their European title.

"This is a friendly match but we're going to take it like a qualifying game. We're not going to play this one down," said Domenech. "There are no points to take but we need to win it."

France have seen several key players retire, including talisman Zinedine Zidane, since they lost to eventual Euro 2004 winners Greece in the quarter-finals of the tournament in June.

Les Bleus have been a shadow of the team that dominated world football by winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 after influential defenders Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu and Marcel Desailly also hung up their international boots.

"When you lose 70 per cent of a team you can't expect things to work fine right away," said defender Willy Sagnol, who is making his comeback for France after an injury lay-off.

Domenech has been left to pick up the pieces but France have not looked convincing in their first few qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup after two wins and two draws.

They have not won at home since Domenech took over in July, having drawn against Bosnia, in a friendly, Israel and Ireland while beating the Faroe Islands and Cyprus away.

France are still unbeaten under Domenech but have rarely seemed solid or confident and badly need a good result at the Stade de France tonight to boost their flagging morale.

"This side is improving with every match. We know that we can do much better and we're going to as there's nothing else to do," said Domenech at their Clairefontaine training camp.

Domenech has left Arsenal's Robert Pires out of the squad for what he called "sporting reasons" related to a loss of form rather than because of the midfielder's criticism of the new France coach who he says makes the players "feel tense".

Domenech has tried to stamp his mark on the squad by calling up five uncapped players - Parma goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, PSG defender Sylvain Armand, Bordeaux midfielder Camel Meriem and Olympique Lyon's Pierre-Alain Frau and Florent Malouda.

"We're building up a new team and I need to see as many players as I can," Domenech said in justifying his selections.

France will be without experienced goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who pulled out on Monday with a knee problem, and he is replaced by Nantes's Mickael Landreau who has just two caps.

The French will have to be wary because Poland have won their last three away matches, including impressive World Cup qualifying victories in Wales and in Austria.

FRANCE (probable): Landreau; Sagnol, Givet, Squillaci, Evra; Vieira, Pedretti, Mavuba; Giuly, Saha, Henry.