FRANCE

Fixtures

France v Senegal, May 31, Seoul (8.30pm)
France v Uruguay, June 6, Busan (8.30pm)
France v Denmark, June 11, Incheon (3.30pm)

Coach: Roger Lemerre

Record: 1930, 1934, 1954, 1966 First Round; 1938 Quarter Finals; 1982 Fourth place; 1958 & 1986 Third place, 1998 Champions

FIFA Ranking: 1

Profile: Ranked No.1 by FIFA, winners in 1998 and European Championship holders to boot, in a word... favorites for the new edition, the French could logically gloat over the euphoria of such a situation, unprecedented in French soccer history. Nothing of the kind...
In fact, they could provide a new surprise, but in the opposite direction to the success story in 1998. The late 2-1 defeat by Belgium and the multiplication of nagging injuries to some of the key-players in the French system (the team will miss the sharpness of Pirès, already withdrawn from the competition) could cost the team dear.
Lemerre is concerned about the physical condition of many key components of French success, such as Henry, Thuram, Boghossian, Wiltord and now Zidane. Injuries to these players look like symptoms of a general fatigue in the team. This tiredness affects most of the players in blue, since almost all of them play in some of the best and busiest European teams (Arsenal, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich) and many had to battle until the very last moment of the season.
Compared to the team of '98, France has much more power upfront provided by Henry, Wiltord and Trézeguet. But doubts about the defence after the defeat by Belgium and narrow win over South Korea in the warm ups, might encourage the French coach to choose another combination, comparable with the one Aimé Jacquet often used four years ago, bolstering defence by playing with three defensive midfielders.
However there is new French talent waiting to burst into the first team, striker Cissé, defenders Sagnol, Silvestre and Christanval, midfielders Micoud and Makelele might seize the opportunity to show what they can bring to the team, whose stars made it difficult until now for younger players to establish themselves.
Men to watch: Of course all the usual suspects (Zidane, Henry, Trézéguet, Thuram, Desailly, Wiltord, Vieira, Lizarazu) but also Djibril Cissé, only one cap for the national team but leading scorer in the French league this year.

Predictions: This French team is potentially stronger than the one victorious four years ago, but now they carry the burden of favorites in the competition. France has a great opportunity to repeat as champions again, and if they can avoid any further injuries, they will be difficult to beat. The real test for the French will occur in the second round, if they have to play against England or... Argentina. Then, who knows...
Alors...allez les Bleus!

Profile by Olivier Lorrillard

On the sidelines

French stars Mikael Silvestre and Emmanuel Petit are unhappy with the new Adidas Fevernova ball being used at the World Cup.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Ulrich Rame (Bordeaux) Age 29, 11 caps
16 Fabien Barthez (Man United) Age 30, 47 caps
23 Gregory Coupet (Lyon) Age 29, 1 cap
Defenders
2 Vincent Candela (Roma) Age 28, 36 caps
3 Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich) Age 32, 74 caps
5 Philippe Christanval (Barcelona) Age 23, 4 caps
8 Marcel Desailly (Chelsea) Age 33, 93 caps
13 Mikael Silvestre (Man United) Age 24, 10 caps
15 Lilian Thuram (Juventus) Age 30, 73 caps
18 Frank Leboeuf (Marseille) Age 34, 47 caps
Midfielders
4 Patrick Vieira (Arsenal) Age 25, 52 caps
7 Claude Makelele (Real Madrid) Age 29, 14 caps
10 Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) Age 29, 73 caps
14 Alain Boghossian (Parma) Age 31, 26 caps
17 Emmanuel Petit (Chelsea) Age 31, 57 caps
19 Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich) Age 25, 9 caps
22 Johan Micoud (Parma) Age 28, 14 caps
Forwards
6 Youri Djorkaeff (Bolton Wanderers) Age 34, 79 caps
9 Djibril Cissis (Auxerre) Age 20, 1 cap
11 Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal) Age 28, 38 caps
12 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) Age 24, 35 caps
20 David Trezeguet (Juventus,) Age 24, 36 caps
21 Christophe Dugarry (Bordeaux) Age 30, 51 caps

SENEGAL

Fixtures

Senegal v France, 31 May, Seoul 8.30pm
Senegal v Denmark, 6 June, Daegu 3.30pm
Senegal v Uruguay, 11 June, Suwon 3.30pm

Coach: Bruno Metsu

Record: First time qualifiers

FIFA Ranking: 42

The Senegalese press calls Senegal's star and African Player of the Year El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf the ‘Serial Killer'. No doubt the Lens striker will be well policed by the defenders of Group A rivals France, Uruguay and Denmark. But Senegal might not be the pushover expected from a team making its first appearance in the World Cup having beaten Nigeria in the semi-final of the African Nations Cup and narrowly losing to Cameroon in the final on penalties. Goalkeeper Tony Sylva was voted best goalkeeper in the competition.
Might be worth an outside bet to make it to the second round.

On the sidelines

Senegal's French coach Bruno Metsu along with fellow style guru Slovenia's Srecko Katanec favours the T-shirt and suit look.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Tony Sylva (Monaco) Age 27, 14 caps
16 Omar Diallo (Khourigba, Morocco) Age 29, 42 caps
22 Kalidou Cissokho (Jeanne d'Arc) Age 32, 0 caps
Defenders
21 Habib Beye (Strasbourg) Age 24, 5 caps
6 Aliou Cisse (Montpellier) Age 26, 19 caps
17 Ferdinand Coly (Lens) Age 28, 15 caps
2 Omar Daf (Sochaux) Age 25, 30 caps
13 Lamine Diatta (Rennes) Age 26, 18 caps
4 Pape Malick Diop (Lorient) Age 27, 25 caps
5 Alassane Ndour (Saint-Etienne) Age 20, 6 caps
Midfielders
19 Pape Bouba Diop (Lens) Age 24, 11 caps
15 Salif Diao (Sedan) Age 25, 19 caps
12 Amdy Moustapha Faye (Auxerre) Age 25, 5 caps
23 Makhtar Ndiaye (Rennes) Age 20, 11 caps
14 Moussa Ndiaye (Sedan) Age 23, 37 caps
20 Sylvain Ndiaye (Lille) Age 25, 5 caps
3 Pape Sarr (Lens) Age 24, 22 caps
Forwards
7 Henri Camara (Sedan) Age 25, 33 caps
9 Souleymane Camara (Monaco) Age 19, 8 caps
11 El Hadji Diouf (Lens) Age 21, 20 caps
10 Khalilou Fadiga (Auxerre) Age 27, 24 caps
18 Pape Thiaw (Lausanne, Switzerland) Age 21, 12 caps
8 Amara Traore (Gueugnon) Age 36, 12 caps

DENMARK

Fixtures

Denmark v Uruguay, 1 June, Ulsan 6pm
Denmark v Senegal, 6 June, Daegu 3.30pm
Denmark v France, 11 June, Incheon 3.30pm

Coach: Morten Olsen

Record: 1986 Second Round; 1998 Quarter Finals

FIFA Ranking: 20

1998 quarter-finalist Denmark might not have the Laudrup brothers or Peter Schmeichel in goal this time around, but there's determination in midfield with Stig Tofting (Bolton Wanderers) and Thomas Gravesen (Everton) and up front there's Ebbe Sand (Schalke 04) and Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord). They have a good keeper between the sticks in Sorensen (Sunderland). Denmark, despite being coached by a former Danish defender, has an attacking 4-3-3 formation. They qualified for Korea and Japan by beating the Czech Republic; their final match was a majestic demolition of Iceland 6-0.

On the sidelines

Danish coach Morten Olsen complained that FIFA's switch to an afternoon kick-off for the Denmark v Senegal clash in Daegu on June 6 gave the African team an advantage. "We now have to play against the African team in the afternoon and in the absolute hottest of all World Cup cities…that is clearly an advantage for our African friends."

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Thomas Sorensen (Sunderland) Age 25, 14 caps
16 Peter Kjaer (Aberdeen) Age 36, 4 caps
22 Jesper Christiansen (Rangers) Age 24, 0 caps
Defenders
3 Rene Henriksen (Panathinaikos) Age 32, 39 caps
4 Martin Laursen (Milan) Age 24, 15 caps
5 Jan Heintze (PSV Eindhoven) Age 38, 83 caps
6 Thomas Helveg (Milan) Age 30, 67 caps
12 Niclas Jensen (Manchester City) Age 27, 8 caps
13 Steven Lustu (Lyn Oslo) Age 31, 4 caps
20 Kasper Bogelund (PSV Eindhoven) Age 21, 2 caps
Midfielders
2 Stig Tofting (Bolton Wanderers) Age 32, 36 caps
7 Thomas Gravesen (Everton) Age 26, 22 caps
14 Claus Jensen (Charlton) Age 25, 14 caps
15 Jan Michaelsen (Panathinaikos) Age 31, 11 caps
17 Christian Poulsen (FC Copenhagen) Age 22, 3 caps
23 Brian Steen Nielsen (Malmo) Age 33, 65 caps
Forwards
8 Jesper Gronkjaer (Chelsea) Age 24, 25 caps
9 Jon Dahl Tomasson (Milan) Age 25, 38 caps
10 Martin Jorgensen (Udinese) Age 25, 25 caps
11 Ebbe Sand (Schalke 04) Age 29, 44 caps
18 Peter Lovenkrands (Rangers) Age 22, 4 caps
19 Dennis Rommedahl (PSV Eindhoven) Age 23, 19 caps
21 Peter Madsen (Brondby) Age 24, 4 caps

URUGUAY

Fixtures

Uruguay v Denmark, 1 June, Ulsan 6pm
Uruguay v France, 6 June, Busan 8.30pm
Uruguay v Senegal, 11 June, Suwon 3.30pm

Coach: Victor Pua

Record: 1962. 1974 First Round; 1986, 1990 Second Round; 1966 Quarter Finals; 1954, 1970 Fourth place; 1930, 1950 Champions

FIFA Ranking: 24

Defence is the strength of the Uruguay national team – they conceded only 15 goals in 20 qualifying matches for the World Cup. They only managed to score 20 in those games, however. In Paolo Montero they have a strong and uncompromising defender. In attack, the main threat to opposition defences will come on the break through Alvaro Recoba, who's been playing well for Internazionale and Malaga's Dario Silva.

On the sidelines

Alvaro Recoba scored 57 times in 51 games for Uruguayan club side National.

The squad

Goalkeepers
1 Fabian Carini (Juventus) Age 22, 34 caps
12 Gustavo Munua (Nacional) Age 24, 9 caps
23 Federico Elduayan (Penarol) Age 24, 0 caps
Defenders
2 Gustavo Mendez (Nacional) Age 31, 42 caps
3 Alejandro Lembo (Nacional) Age 24, 30 caps
4 Paolo Montero (Juventus) Age 30, 45 caps
6 Dario Rodriguez (Penarol) Age 27, 22 caps
14 Gonzalo Sorondo (Internazionale) Age 22, 17 caps
15 Joe Bizera (Penarol) Age 22, 8 caps
Midfielders
5 Pablo Garcia (Venezia) Age 25, 36 caps
7 Gianni Guigou (Roma) Age 27, 35 caps
10 Fabian O'Neill (Perugia) Age 28, 18 caps
16 Marcelo Romero (Malaga) Age 25, 21 caps
18 Nicolas Olivera (Seville) Age 23, 24 caps
22 Gonzalo de los Santos (Valencia) Age 25, 26 caps
Forwards
8 Gustavo Varela (Nacional) Age 24, 7 caps
9 Dario Silva (Malaga) Age 29, 36 caps
11 Federico Magallanes (Venezia) Age 25, 25 caps
13 Sebastian Abreu (Cruz Azul, Mexico) Age 25, 11 caps
17 Mario Regueiro (Racing Santander) Age 23, 13 caps
19 Richard Morales (Nacional) Age 27, 11 caps
20 Alvaro Recoba (Internazionale) Age 26, 44 caps
21 Diego Forlan (Man United) Age 23, 3 caps