French connection gets airing in Marseilles

France's influence on this World Cup goes beyond the billion small logistical details which they have solved as hosts. Their thoughtful approach to the game was winning converts before Arsene Wenger's quiet celebration helped Arsenal decorate the doughty English game with something more than mere muscle and sweat.

Tonight two managers who sprung from the same country but whose careers have run vastly different courses pound the sidelines in Marseilles. Both of them disciples of Wenger but of decidedly different temperaments.

Phillippe Troussier publicly acknowledged Wenger's influence when he was appointed manager of Sheffield Wednesday earlier this week. His new employers may find their manager to be more mercurial than his mentor, however.

Troussier is a difficult customer. He was accused by players earlier this year of running a "military style training camp" and of insulting and bullying other players. Apparently relishing the cloudburst of media criticism Troussier conducted his next press conference entirely in French, despite having fluent English.

Just before his side left for Europe he was involved in an incident with a local newspaper reporter who had criticised him in a report the previous day. Troussier was alleged to have "manhandled" the journalist when he encountered him at a match the following day.

Troussier was sacked as coach of the Ivory Coast having called the Federations president a "stupid fool" and he lost his job coaching Kaizer Chiefs after a players revolt against training regime. He managed Nigeria briefly but was sacked for "technical imcompetence".

In South Africa they call him the White Witch Doctor and are familiar with his temperament having watched him turn in a prosaic career as a midfielder with South African first division side Served before becoming a coach. Cheerfully admits to not being the best tactician in the game (a serious under-playing of his talents) and places the emphasis on his powers to motivation.

In the run up to today's game Troussier has been ratcheting up the pressure on his compatriot and counterpart Aime Jacquet, highlighting the latter's problems concerning his forwards and swaggering confidently in front of the media.

"The pressure will be a handicap for the French. It's really good for us and we've got a 100 per cent chance. We will be so relaxed, with nothing to lose. The pressure on Jacquet is huge. That is the nature of the job and it can be very frustrating. He is keeping his ideas close to his chest . . ."

Jacquet is older, quieter, and has a superior footballing pedigree. He played for St Etienne for 12 years, wringing four championships out of a career as a workmanlike midfielder before rounding off his professional career in nearby Lyon.

He won two international caps and moved into coaching as soon as he dumped his football boots. After coaching a string of clubs from 1990 onwards and winning three French championships in the 80's he became technical director of the French football association in 1992. His approach to this World Cup has been patient and methodical, resisting the temptation to play to the expectations of a fevered public.

This evening in the Velodrome he pitches his wits against the upstart.

"We will see what we will see," he told reporters yesterday.