Do-or-die for World Champs; Cameroon loom over Germany

If they stumble again, France will become the first reigning champions since Brazil in 1966 to fail to reach the second round.

The likely return of playmaker Zinedine Zidane has raised French spirits but even with their talisman midfielder they will have their work cut out in Inchon.

“We are in a very simple situation. We must beat the Danes by two goals,” said midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who will miss the game through suspension. Coach Roger Lemerre appears keen to stick to his highly sophisticated 4-2-3-1 line-up which has been made to measure for Zidane, the world’s most expensive player. The team doctor said Zidane could be fit for Tuesday’s match, conceding that he would not be at his best.

France still have to win a match without Zidane this year and hope his presence will be enough to change their luck.

Denmark only need a draw to qualify, but coach Morten Olsen says they will not play for a draw.

“We must enter this game with the will to win,” he told a news conference at Denmark’s base camp on the island of Nahmae. France and Denmark have met four times in an international tournament and each time the winner of the match has gone the all way through to the title. (Reuters)