FRENCH coach Aime Jacquet will lead the host nation into the 1998 World Cup finals, it was confirmed yesterday.

Despite the disappointment of defeat in the semi finals of Euro 96 the French Football Federation has kept faith in Jacquet, who was first appointed in 1993 after France's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in the United States.

As France will not have to qualify for the next World Cup Jacquet is drawing up a strong list of friendlies and must regain the confidence of French fans, 72 per cent of whom were against his continuing in the job according to a poll a French newspaper last month.

His side has yet to taste defeat outside of a penalty shoot out apart from France's Euro 96 semifinal defeat by the Czech Republic on penalties, they are unbeaten in 28 matches.