Switzerland v France Berne, tomorrow Kick-off: 7.45Although Djibril Cisse was refusing to admit it, the opportunity to prove a point to Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is giving him extra motivation ahead of tomorrow's World Cup qualifier between France and Switzerland.
With Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet both ruled out through injury, Cisse is set to play as a lone striker in Berne as France go in search of the three points that would guarantee them top spot in Group Four.
The 24-year-old has been bitterly disappointed by Benitez's reluctance to pick him for Liverpool this season and he expressed his dissatisfaction openly at France's training camp at Clairefontaine yesterday.
Surrounded by French journalists curious to discover why Benitez is selecting Peter Crouch and occasionally even Florent Sinama-Pongolle ahead of him, a downbeat Cisse struggled to hide his frustration as he threatened to leave the club at Christmas.
"If the situation hasn't evolved by December I will leave," he said. "I'd be disappointed if it came to that, especially for the supporters. But I have to think about my career and I'm not prepared to be playing one match in two, or one match in three, six months before the World Cup."
The former Auxerre striker went so far as to discuss potential destinations, describing Marseille as "the most plausible option" before adding "I am also attracted by Spanish football".
Cisse started the season full of optimism. Having recovered from the double leg fracture that sidelined him for most of last term, he scored four times in Liverpool's Champions League qualifiers, then struck two more goals to clinch the Super Cup against CSKA Moscow. Benitez has not given him the chance to build on that early promise, however.
The France international has been used mainly as a substitute in the Premiership, starting just two matches and even then out of position on the right wing. "I was given 10 minutes against Manchester United. That's not enough for me to show what I can do," Cisse complained. "It was the same against Chelsea. When I came on we were already 4-1 down.
"If I do start, Benitez puts me on the right wing which clearly isn't my position. I can use my speed on the wing, but I don't know how to defend and I don't know how to cross."
The striker's sense of injustice has been heightened by Liverpool's poor form. The European champions are 13th in the Premiership having scored just four goals in six matches, and Cisse said: "It can't carry on like this. We're not scoring and we're drawing far too many matches. If the coach wants to change things, then I'm ready and willing," he added.
In Switzerland tomorrow Cisse should be granted an ideal opportunity to show Benitez what he has been missing. France coach Raymond Domenech has several attacking options, but is expected to pick the Liverpool forward as a central striker, flanked by Sylvain Wiltord on the right and Florent Malouda on the left. "I'm certainly fresh as I haven't been overplayed recently," Cisse joked. "I hope I start as a lone attacker because that's where I played for three years at Auxerre and that's the position I enjoy the most."
Cisse, who scored twice against the Faroe Islands in his last international start, described the game against the group leaders as the biggest in his France career so far. "I had a taste of the World Cup in 2002, but I'm desperate not to miss out next summer. Considering what is at stake and considering that we're without Henry and Trezeguet, this is massive game for me."
