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Makelele makes plea for patience
By Louis Laffitte from Paris
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Claude Makelele (France) (¿uefa.com)
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France welcome Scotland to Paris tonight for their decisive
Group B UEFA EURO 2008T qualifier hoping to build on their 0-0 draw against
Italy on Saturday.
Revenge
France head the section with 19 points from eight games, one more than
Scotland who come into the match with confidence buoyed by an excellent
3-1 win against Lithuania on Saturday. The French know they face a tough
challenge, having been defeated 1-0 by Scotland in Glasgow last October
despite dominating the game. "We'll need to be even more patient
than against Italy," France midfielder Claude Makelele said. "And
we'll have to take more risks offensively without compromising our solidity
at the back."
'Annoying'
Raymond Domenech's side expect a similar game to the one they experienced
at Hampden Park, and Chelsea FC player Makelele concedes it could get
"annoying" for Les Bleus. "They are a team that closes
you down all the time, runs for the whole 90 minutes and does not let
you develop your game," he added. "It won't be the same football
we played in Italy. We have to expect an even tougher game in which we'll
need to be aggressive and combative early on."
Henry replacement
France are without the suspended Thierry Henry and doubts still remain
as to who will replace him. Olympique Lyonnais striker Karim Benzema,
Ligue 1's leading scorer, is the favourite but both Sidney Govou and Samir
Nasri give Domenech plenty of options. David Trezeguet, who boasts more
experience than any of those three, is also a possibility but has fallen
down the pecking order.
Escude impresses
Arsenal FC defender William Gallas has resumed training after a groin
injury, but Domenech may decide not to take any risks with him after his
understudy, Sevilla FC centre-back Julien Escude, put in such a convincing
display against Italy at San Siro. Lassana Diarra was France's best player
in Milan but he could make way for either Francois Clerc or Bacary Sagna
should Domenech opt for a more attacking right-back.
Parc return
With the Rugby Union World Cup currently occupying the Stade de France,
Les Bleus' usual home, France will play at the Parc des Princes for the
first time since 1997. "We need our supporters behind us," Makelele
said. "It would be good to be able to count on them as an extra man,
because this is a key game we have to win to qualify."
UEFA.com,
12 September 2007
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