France awakes this morning a troubled nation. Sparked by inconceivable defeat to Senegal last week and fuelled by rumours of discord among Les Bleus, nagging doubt has crept in where once there was supreme confidence.
France v Uruguay
Today, Group A - 12.30
Defeat by Uruguay in Busan this afternoon would effectively send the world champions home having barely mustered a whimper in defence of their title. Given the grumbling discontent surfacing sporadically among the camp this week, such a miserable scenario is not as improbable as it at first seems.
In recent years Roger Lemerre's squad has drawn inner strength from its unswerving unity, but the defeat to Senegal provoked as much tetchy in-fighting as defiance. First Frank Leboeuf, castigated at home for his sloppy defending against El Hadji Diouf in the build-up to Senegal's winning goal, sought to deflect criticism from his own sorry involvement. The goal was apparently down to Youri Djorkaeff's inability to retain possession in midfield: "You shouldn't try such an obvious trick at this level," said the centre-back.
Then Marcel Desailly weighed in, urging David Trezeguet to grow up. "Sure, David was frustrated," said the France captain earlier this week. "But we don't ask much of him. We just want him to be there where we need him up front. Look at what Diouf was able to achieve holding the ball up and giving his team time to catch their breath."
Predictably enough, Trezeguet's riposte was curt and public: "Marcel should worry about his own problems instead of other people's." Bixente Lizarazu pointed out that "we are not children any more", though sometimes it is hard to tell.
Belated attempts to quell the bickering have proved unconvincing. "There are no arguments or squabbles," insisted Desailly yesterday. "We are all working towards the same end.
"We have spent more time together," added Parma's Johan Micoud. "We have been slapped in the face and we could keep crying for a week or we could try to bounce back. No Messiah is going to save us."
The irony is that now, more than ever, is the time for the French to show real collective strength. Once again there is likely to be no Zinedine Zidane to save them today. Without him France appeared rudderless last week; Micoud will fill the void he leaves, though few suspect with as much authority.
From the outside, the French set-up resembles "un club ferme" under Lemerre, who remains steadfastly loyal - or stubbornly unimaginative, depending on your point of view to those players who helped win the World Cup and the European Championship.
There is a perceived refusal to blood youngsters despite the widely held belief that many of Lemerre's favourites - Bixente Lizarazu, Leboeuf, Emmanuel Petit and maybe even Desailly - are well past their best. Any suggestion of that and the coach is prone to slip into his best impression of a volcanic Alex Ferguson, but critics justifiably ask why Lemerre watched Chelsea more than any other team last season, ignoring the impressive William Gallas as he fretted over his captain's form and fitness.
It is Leboeuf's continued ability to command a first-team place that grates most of all. The 34-year-old endured a torrid season at Marseille and has become something of a laughing stock back home, his slump in form continually mocked on Les Guignols, French television's equivalent of Spitting Image. Had Lilian Thuram not damaged a shin, he might have made way; as it is, he will earn his 50th cap today.
"Everybody keeps going on about the changes we should make, but this is still the side that won the World Cup and the European Championship," added Desailly.
"We are conscious that it would be crazy if France lost this game, but let's not exaggerate. It's not as if we played that badly against Senegal. All right, we didn't score and we lost the game, but we created about 15 chances and could easily have won. It may have been a catastrophic match, but we are still very much in contention."
Guardian Service
Sweden v Nigeria
Tomorrow: Group F -7.30
If Sven-Goran Eriksson had his way, every England training session would be closed to the public and the media. Nigeria's coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, seems to be on a similar wavelength.
During the opening 15 minutes of Nigeria's training on Wednesday, Nwankwo Kanu was walking around with an ice-pack attached to his leg. As soon as the cameras departed, however, he was seen from outside the perimeter fence running around.
It is the most active the Arsenal man has been since a knock forced him out of last Sunday's game with Argentina at half-time, a loss Onigbinde is still angry about. "Argentina's players were trying to injure Kanu on purpose," the coach said. "Veron kicked him. It was planned."
Onigbinde's unhappiness extended to his team's performance. "I'm not satisfied that we showed enough courage," he said, and Onigbinde knows his team must get at least a point against Sweden if they are to reach the next phase.
Kanu is literally central to that aim and the Swedes are aware of his ability. Not only has Freddie Ljungberg, Kanu's Arsenal team-mate, been warning his colleagues of the threat, the Swedish scout assigned to Nigeria has also stressed Kanu's contribution.
"When they attack, the ball always goes through Kanu," said Thomas Lyth. I think that is a good move: they now have better balance."
Were Patrick Andersson to be fit, then presumably he would be involved in the "Stop Kanu" campaign, but the Swedish captain, having missed the England game with a groin strain, is still a source of some concern for Lars Lagerback.
Swedish confidence is nevertheless high after the draw against England, and they are well aware that victory tomorrow would put them in a strong position to qualify for the second stage - particularly if Argentina beat England later in the day.
Guardian Service
