France coach names squad

France coach Raymond Domenech admitted judgement day was looming for his team ahead of the World Cup qualifying double-header…

France coach Raymond Domenech admitted judgement day was looming for his team ahead of the World Cup qualifying double-header with the Faroe Islands and the Republic of Ireland.

France are only fourth in Group Four and Domenech is well aware that any more slip-ups in the remaining four qualifying matches could mean France will not go to Germany next summer.

Domenech named his squad yesterday for the two matches and included Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele, three players he persuaded to come out of international retirement earlier this month.

Domenech admits that it is now time for his team to deliver the goods. "There is no need to do any more talking because the moment of truth is coming."

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Domenech knows his fate and that of his players hinges on the four remaining World Cup qualifiers. He said: "We need solid results because we will be judged on that basis. There are four decisive matches and we will soon know how good this team is, what it's destiny is, it's desire and what it will do over four games which will decide whether or not it will play in the World Cup.

"We have had enough talk and it's time for action."

For the matches with the Faroe Islands at Lens on September 3rd and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin four days later there will be no Nicolas Anelka, Robert Pires or Benoit Pedretti, who remain out of favour with Domenech.

Gregory Coupet will continue in place of the suspended Fabien Barthez while also banned is David Trezeguet. Returning in place of Lyon's Sidney Govou is Barcelona forward Ludovic Giuly who is added to the party which beat the Ivory Coast in Montpellier, a match which saw Zidane, Thuram and Makelele play their first matches for France since Euro 2004.

There remains a doubt over the fitness of Thuram but Domenech is confident the veteran will play. Domenech said: "He will train with the (Juventus) squad this week and it's possible he could play on Sunday. The match with the Faroe Islands is so far away that I am not worried."

That game in Lens comes first, though, with the Republic trip four days later on September 7th.

FRANCE SQUAD: G Coupet (Lyon), M Landreau (Nantes); J-A Boumsong (Newcastle), W Gallas (Chelsea), G Givet (Monaco), W Sagnol (Bayern Munich), S Squillaci (Monaco), L Thuram (Juventus), Jonathan Zebina (Juventus); Vikash Dhorasoo (Paris St Germain), A Diarra (Lens), C Makelele (Chelsea), J Rothen (Paris St Germain), P Vieira (Juventus), Z Zidane (Real Madrid); D Cisse (Liverpool), L Giuly (Barcelona), T Henry (Arsenal), F Malouda (Lyon), S Wiltord (Lyon).