Les Bleus can prevail in 'hardest draw', insists Zizou
Former French great Zinedine Zidane says Les Blues are technically a superior side and should come out winners at the end of the two-leg battle against Ireland. Photo: Getty Images
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Friday November 13 2009
ZINEDINE ZIDANE has called on a new generation of French players to draw from the lessons of 2005 and survive an onslaught in Dublin tomorrow evening.
The legendary World Cup winner came out of his first international retirement to negotiate Raymond Domenech's side through the 2006 qualifying campaign. A particular highlight of that campaign was the clash at Lansdowne Road that resulted in a crucial three points for Les Bleus courtesy of a Thierry Henry second-half wonder-strike.
Zidane expects his successors to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, provided they can cope with Irish aggression in tomorrow's first leg at Croke Park.
"A huge physical challenge which had to be met at all costs," said Zidane as he reflected on his visit to these shores four years ago to battle with an Irish team managed by Brian Kerr and skippered by Roy Keane.
"We couldn't do it otherwise," he said. "But technically the French players were superior and I think it's the same this time."
While his former team-mate Youri Djorkaeff said earlier this week that "I'd rather play Ireland 1,000 times more than Ukraine," Zidane believes Ireland were the worst outcome for Les Bleus from the four unseeded teams.
"The first leg will be very difficult," he said, "Ireland have good players and when World Cup qualification is at stake then you raise your game.
"I think the second leg will be a little less difficult to negotiate. Logically over two legs we should get through. Ireland is perhaps the hardest draw we could have got, but all the same it's very manageable.
"In Dublin, we'll have to concentrate very much on defence. The No 1 priority is not to concede a goal. And, of course, we'll also have to control the physical commitment to avoid being over-run because otherwise things could swing against us very quickly," added Zidane.
- Daniel McDonnell
Irish Independent
