Nervy France do just about enough

Cyprus 0 France 2: France remain in contention for qualification after a hard-fought and, at times, nervy victory over Cyprus in Nicosia last night. Fabien Barthez again came to his country's rescue with a brilliant double save to deny Yiannakis Okkas before goals from Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry secured the points.

Both goals will have come as a relief to France manager Raymond Domenech, but for different reasons. Wiltord scored at a moment when France were in danger of being overrun by a Cyprus team that had been held to a draw by the Faroe Islands four days earlier, while Henry's strike goes some way to ending his much-talked-about barren run.

Domenech made just two changes from the side that was held to a draw by the Republic of Ireland, with captain Patrick Vieira returning from suspension while Peguy Luyindula was preferred to Djibril Cisse as Henry's attacking partner.

Luyindula's ability to drop deep and create space was evident in the second minute when he turned his marker and played Robert Pires clear on the left. The Arsenal winger should have laid on the opening goal for Henry or Wiltord, both of whom were unmarked in the centre, but his cross was too close to goalkeeper Nicos Panayiotou.

France's bright start was not a sign of things to come, as once again Domenech's players appeared shrouded with doubt and surrendered possession cheaply.

Cyprus should have taken the lead in the 25th minute when Constantinos Charalambides' perfectly-timed pass played Okkas clean through but the Olympiakos forward saw his first shot cannon back off Barthez's body and his second saved by the goalkeeper's feet.

France took the lead against the run of play seven minutes before the break. For all France's hesitancy, the goal hinted at the attacking potential they possess, as a lovely passing move involving Luyindula, Pires and Vieira culminated with Wiltord racing clear on the right and ramming a low shot past Panayiotou.

Cyprus refused to lie down, however, and almost equalised on 68 minutes when Stavros Georgiou latched onto Constantinos Makrides' free kick but he struck his shot over. France heeded the warning and duly doubled their lead four minutes later, Dacourt threading a pass through for Henry who coolly flicked a low shot past Panayiotou.

France might have extended their lead as they finished strongly, but Lambros Lambrou's header nine minutes from time - which struck the inside of the post and rolled agonisingly along the line - served as a reminder to Domenech and his players that the road to Germany could yet be a complicated one.

CYPRUS: Panagiotou, Nikolaou (Lambrou 76), Kakoyiannis, Okkarides, Okkas, Charalambides (Makrides 55), Konstantinou, Charalambous, Ilia, Satsias, Nicolas Georgiou (Yiasoumi 81). Subs Not Used: Morfis, Kaiafas, Neophytou, Krassias. Booked: Charalambous.

FRANCE: Barthez, Vieira, Gallas, Pires (Moreira 46), Wiltord, Henry, Silvestre, Squillaci, Dacourt (Diarra 89), Givet, Luyindula (Evra 61). Subs Not Used: Boumsong, Cisse, Zebina, Coupet. Booked: Silvestre. Goals: Wiltord 38, Henry 71.

Referee: Alan Larsen (Denmark).