Zidane's injury mars gutsy win for France

France expect to learn today whether Zinedine Zidane's thigh injury will keep him out of the opening match of the World Cup against Senegal in Seoul on Friday.

The Real Madrid midfielder hobbled out of yesterday's 3-2 friendly win over South Korea, and underwent preliminary tests which revealed a small tear in his left thigh muscle. The France team doctor, Jean-Marcel Ferret, said Zidane would see specialists in Seoul today for a full diagnosis.

They will indicate when he should be fit to resume training, and even a couple of days lost may force the France coach, Roger Lemerre, to count him out of the tournament's first match.

To lose Zidane for the Senegal game would be a cruel blow for the defending champions, given his present form. Having volleyed Real Madrid's winner in the European Cup final, Zidane was reaching peak form before he pulled up yesterday.

"He immediately left the pitch and the test revealed a small tear of the median third of the quadriceps," Ferret said. "The clinical results and the analysis of the complementary examinations will tell us of the duration of unavailability."

Lemerre, who admitted to the South Korea coach, Guus Hiddink, that the home side had taken France by surprise with their performance, said: "When a side like Korea is backed by their public, they become very dangerous.

"We have had to fight hard to cope with the skills, with the physical challenge proposed by the Koreans and with their strong will. But we never gave it up and we managed to win in the end."

Frank Leboeuf spared the holders' blushes with his late winner after goals from Ji-Sung Park and Ki-Hyeon Seol had put the Koreans in front, David Trezeguet having fired the French ahead in the 16th minute. Christophe Dugarry equalised eight minutes into the second half but the Koreans squandered a string of chances before Leboeuf's late goal.

Hiddink said: "The coach for France told me he was surprised at the improvement of the Korean team and that we can match up with the big teams. They [France] were surprised in the first half. They got caught by our pressure.

"We attacked in the midfield so they couldn't play their own game. It was good to see what the Korean team can do. But we are still ranked fourth in our group and I want them to be very normal and very humble. I want them to give 100 per cent so the Korean people can enjoy the Korean team."

France were not the only team to suffer injuries to players over the weekend as the World Cup's 32 sides warmed up in a series of friendly matches.

In Tokyo, Italy's Filippo Inzaghi scored but later had to go off with a thigh injury as his side eased to a 2-1 win over the Japanese club champions Kashima Antlers yesterday.

Christian Vieri scored Italy's other goal but Inzaghi's injury, along with a lacklustre display from his side, would have been the main things occupying the mind of the Italy coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, afterwards.

One piece of good news was the return of the Italy playmaker Francesco Totti, playing for the first time in a month after recovering from a thigh injury of his own. Although clearly not yet match fit, Totti showed some neat touches before being replaced by Alessandro del Piero at the interval.

In Kuala Lumpur, Ronaldo scored his first goal for Brazil in almost three years as the four-time world champions beat Malaysia 4-0.

It was an erratic performance from a strong Brazil side and the match was only settled by a 26-minute second-half scoring spree where the South Americans fired in all four goals.

Brazil looked disjointed in the opening period, although Ronaldinho Gaucho, Kleberson, Lucio, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos all had chances to score against a weak Malaysia side.

For the second half, Denilson was brought on to replace Edmilson and the Real Betis winger proceeded to inspire the crucial breakthrough, Ronaldo striking six minutes after the break to open the scoring.

Further goals from Juninho, Denilson and Edilson then gave the Brazilians a slightly flattering win.