World Cup / Group Four / France 4 Cyprus 0: France booked their place in the World Cup finals last night thanks to their 4-0 victory over Cyprus and Switzerland's failure to win at Lansdowne Road.
First-half goals from Zinedine Zidane, Sylvain Wiltord and Vikash Dhorasoo, and one more in the second period from Ludovic Giuly, were enough to ensure Raymond Domenech's team top the section. But the overriding feeling at the end was one of relief. "It's a great moment for us but it's only a step and the players know that," Domenech explained. "We don't want the adventure to end here. That's why the players aren't going over the top . . . "
After becoming the first coach to guide Les Bleus through a successful World Cup qualifying campaign for 20 years, France's much-criticised coach was keen to savour the moment. "The victory did not come without pain, but we're through and that's the main thing," he said.
France knew they would qualify for Germany irrespective of events in Dublin if they rattled in a hatful of goals. But given the absences of David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, plus the fact they have failed to score freely in the campaign, Domenech's claim he would settle for the three points was understandable.
France's confidence is fragile and after an early flurry they started to lose their way. Asimakis Krassas shot over before the France midfield, shorn of the suspended Claude Makelele, lost Patrick Vieira to injury. But just as it looked as though the unthinkable might happen, Zidane calmed France's nerves with the opening goal on 29 minutes.
Willy Sagnol's cross from the left was misjudged by Constantinos Charalambides at the far post, and Zidane brought the ball down on his chest before stroking it under Michael Morfis.
France had the game wrapped up before half-time. Cisse weaved a pass through for Wiltord and the Lyon forward dinked his shot over Morfis.
The home side seemed capable of amassing the five goals they needed in the event of a Swiss victory when Vikash Dhorasoo registered his first international strike. Wiltord slipped the Paris St Germain player on the left, and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper.
France struggled to find the same momentum after the interval. The introduction of Ludovic Giuly just before the hour injected some freshness, however, and they were soon peppering shots in on goal again.
The Cypriot goalkeeper was beaten for a fourth time seven minutes before the end, as Zidane crossed for Giuly who tapped in.
FRANCE: Coupet, Boumsong, Cisse, Dhorasoo, Gallas, Govou (Jurietti 90), Sagnol, Thuram, Vieira (Diarra 24), Wiltord (Giuly 59), Zidane. Subs Not Used: Landreau, Malouda, Squillaci. Goals: Zidane 29, Wiltord 31, Dhorasoo 43, Giuly 84.
CYPRUS: Morfis, Aloneftis, Charalambidis, Charalambous, Elia, Garpozis (Maragos 46), Lambrou, Louka, Makrides (Marios Nicolaou 80), Yiasoumi (Filaniotis 62), Krassas. Subs Not Used: Panagiotou, Okkarides, Konstantinou, Constantinou. Booked: Morfis, Elia, Makrides.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Ergolding).
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