France take nothing for granted in WC

Paris: France know exactly what they must not do if they are to survive a seemingly easy-looking Group G at the World Cup finals.

The former world and European champions look strong enough to emerge from a group also featuring Switzerland, South Korea and Togo but must avoid a repeat of their nightmare 2002 scenario.

At the previous World Cup in South Korea and Japan, France faced a manageable task against Senegal, Uruguay and Denmark but the holders were sent packing after failing to win a match and even to score a goal.

The main danger for France this time will come from Switzerland, who they face in their opening game on June 13 in Stuttgart.

Not exactly World Cup heavyweights, Switzerland nevertheless have reasons to believe that this year's finals could bring a strong improvement in their global reputation.

Koebi Kuhn's men finished as deserved runners-up behind the French in their qualifying campaign and could even have pipped the former world champions but for some poor finishing in their final match in Dublin.

With France and Switzerland looking above the rest, that June 13 match should go a long way in determining who wins the group.

France, who know all about poor starts since falling 1-0 to Senegal in their opening game four years ago, will be determined to start on a high note.

If Zinedine Zidane and company manage to beat the Swiss, they could be cruising after that with neither South Korea nor Togo looking like major threats.

A repeat of South Korea's fairytale run to the semi-finals on home soil in 2002 looks very unlikely.

Automatic qualifiers as co-hosts four years ago, they appeared burdened by expectation in a disappointing 2006 qualifying campaign that shattered the team's confidence and led to the departure of two unconvincing managers.

Debutants Togo, who saw off more fancied African sides including Cameroon and Senegal to qualify, now threaten to become one of the World Cup's worst-ever sides.

After a dismal African Nations Cup finals campaign, in which their lack of depth was starkly exposed, Togo have fired their inspirational Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi and employed a veteran German trainer in Otto Pfister to try and pick up the pieces.