Pressure growing as France wait for Zidane

Sirens will sound for a minute here today as part of South Korea's day of remembrance for its war dead. Efforts have been made to inform World Cup visitors in case they fear that the screeching signals an air raid, though they could be forgiven for assuming they were alarm bells going off in the France camp.

France's opening defeat to Senegal means the holders will probably be the first team to be eliminated from the tournament if they lose again, to Uruguay, in the Asiad Main Stadium today. As if that were not pressure enough, they are still unsure whether Zinedine Zidane will be fit to return, the decision being left to the Real Madrid midfielder himself.

Zidane, who tore a thigh muscle in the friendly against South Korea 10 days ago, was sorely missed in the first match. France, indeed, have not won in his absence this year. He is running and kicking a ball again, but their coach Roger Lemerre failed to clarify his position last night. "The injury is improving, and Zinedine wants to play," he said. "But there are some things you shouldn't do if there are too many doubts. If there is a decision to take, he will take it."

Lemerre decined to discuss possible changes in personnel or tactics, tetchily dismissing such matters as "hypothetical" and admitting only that he still has concerns about Lilian Thuram, who has a shin injury. His absence would preclude the prospect of Frank Lebouef being dropped after his travails in Seoul, and of Thuram joining Marcel Desailly in central defence. The coach, however, sets great store by loyalty, and Leboeuf is expected to continue.

"People keep saying we are struggling at the back, but it was up front that let us down against Senegal," Lemerre said. "I'm confident that there are goals in this squad, so the pressure is now on our strikers to perform against Uruguay."

Pressure: the word kept recurring in questions to Lemerre and in his answers. France's management and players view it variously as something manufactured by the press or a by-product of their own extraordinary success. "French football has developed a culture of victory in the past four years," reflected Lemerre. "Where people back home are concerned, we have to win. They've become passionate since 1998, so every setback is a disaster."

Desailly, the captain, believed reaction to the Senegal defeat had been as if France had suffered "an earthquake". He added: "For many French people, we had already won this World Cup. They expect too much. Within the squad we knew it would be step by step."

Asked what might change against Uruguay -- the causes of Johan Micoud, Vincent Candela and Claude Makelele have all been championed -- the Chelsea defender replied enigmatically: "Many things or nothing." The true answer may lie in between, Lemerre hardly being the type to panic and tear up Les Bleus' blueprint after one bad result.

Makelele would be an obvious choice to play alongside Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit if Lemerre wants to insure against being swamped in midfield again. Should Zidane's club colleague start, they may switch to 4-3-1-2, Thierry Henry partnering David Trezeguet, and Sylvain Wiltord paying for an indifferent first game.

Whether that formation, top-heavy with defensive midfielders and ball-winners, would provide sufficient creativity and service to the attackers remains to be seen. Uruguay, despite needing to open their account after losing their first Group A fixture to Denmark, are likely to favour a counter-attacking strategy over a cavalier approach. Desailly admitted the attitude of opposing sides was a problem. Senegal, he noted, were the one country so far to set out with negative intentions. "They just defended the whole match and played on the break. We are the only team that someone has been afraid of. All the other games have been open, but teams are scared of France."

It would be "crazy", Desailly suggested, if they were to lose and go out. Lemerre would not even countenance such talk, encapsulating the task facing the world champions in one terse phrase: "Il faut vaincre." "We must win."