Group C: France v Saudi Arabia

Christophe Dugarry, who came on as a substitute and opened the scoring against South Africa, is likely to lead the French attack tonight when they take on Saudi Arabia at the Stade De France. Stephane Guivarc'h, who started against South Africa, is recovering from an injury but, even if fully fit, he is still likely to lose out to Dungarry whose erratic international career was suitably accelerated by that precious lead goal against the South Africans.

The French are shaping up like a team who, when in the mood, could cause trouble for any opposition and this evening's assignment is merely a practice spin for Aime Jacquet's team. It's not a line, however, which the coach is willing to countenance.

"There is false expectation that it will be easy for us," he told a press conference yesterday. "But I have told my players that such talk is dangerous.

"There are no certain wins in the World Cup finals. We have worked too hard and waited too long to put it all at risk by taking a wrong attitude into the game."

For all Jacquet's apprehension, however, it is difficult to see how they can fail to win. The back four of Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu has not conceded a goal in four games and has allowed just two in the seven internationals they have played together.

Monaco's Thierry Henry will be on the right wing with Youri Djorkaeff and Zinedine Zidane in the middle. Saudi Arabia can claim to have restricted Denmark to a 1-0 win in their opening game but there the merit ended.

Naive in defence and lacking in ambition until Marc Rieper punished them for their inadequacies, the impression was of a team which was out of its depth. France will not wish to put qualification at risk by having to secure a result against Denmark.

France (probable): Barthez; Thuram, Blanc, Desailly, Lizarazu, Deschamps, Petit, Zidane, Djorkaeff, Henry, Dugarry.

Key Player: Thierry Henry.

Age: 20. Caps: 4. Goals: 1.

Club: Monaco.

In Thierry Henry many see one of the most important players in the development of the French team over the next eight years.

A key personality in Monaco's championship success last season, he produced seven goals in the competition to entice a substantial, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid by Real Madrid.

He made his international debut against South Africa last November and has shown himself to be an outstanding prospect in the company of more senior players in the French squad.

Strengths: Impressive pace and ball control and, as he showed against South Africa in their opening World Cup game, a willingness to range across the entire width of the pitch.

Weaknesses: At this stage of his development, he can be shut out by the big tacklers, although it wasn't often evidenced in Marseille last Saturday.