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France needs win against Ireland

France has no place left to hide. Coach Raymond Domenech's beleaguered side faces a make-or-break World Cup qualifying match against Ireland today.

Poor recent form has cast doubt on whether the once mighty French team can qualify for World Cup 2006, and confidence is arguably at its lowest since 1993: when Les Bleus dismally failed to qualify for World Cup '94.

Following a tepid 0-0 draw at home to Israel and a scrappy 2-0 win away at Faroe Islands last month, France desperately needs a strong showing against Ireland to quieten the critics and establish a stranglehold in Group Four.

"This is our big test and we absolutely have to get three points," defender William Gallas said Thursday at the French training camp in Clairefontaine.

"It is going to be very tough for us. Everyone will want to see what shape the French team is in," Gallas said. "Ireland is a very good side with talented individuals like Damien Duff, Clinton Morrison and Roy Keane."

Gallas, at right-back, will be pitted against Chelsea teammate Duff and considers him to be Ireland's main attacking threat.

"He has so many qualities it's difficult to list them all," Gallas said. "He's good on the ball and has been in top form recently."

A defeat would seriously hinder France's qualifying chances and increase the pressure on Domenech.

Latvian soccer coach Alexandrs Starkovs will be on the sidelines for Latvia's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia today, despite a six-game suspension imposed by FIFA, a Latvian team spokesman said yesterday.

Starkovs received the suspension after being ejected from Latvia's Sept. 4 qualifier against Portugal in Riga for arguing an apparent hand ball by Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo that led to Portugal's first goal in a 2-0 win.

Starkovs made an ironic thumbs-up gesture to referee's assistant suggesting he blew the call and was subsequently dismissed by the game's fourth official.

At the post game press conference, Starkovs suggested the referee, and not himself, should be sanctioned by FIFA for blowing the call.

Latvia has played two qualifiers and is currently fourth in its group with three points. Slovakia, which has played three games, sits atop the group with seven points.

Denmark's first ever soccer strike was called off on Thursday according to the players' and clubs' representatives, who refused to release details of the agreement.

The bulk of Denmark's professional soccer players went on strike on Aug. 17 after talks between officials and the National Players' Association collapsed in a dispute over FIFA's transfer rules for players under 23.

The strike was then twice suspended when the two sides agreed to return to the bargaining table. After days of talks, the players' group and Division Association representing the clubs said they agreed on a new collective agreement late Wednesday.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the two sides said the new agreement "must now be approved by the competent bodies in the National Players' Association and Division Association." That "should be done very fast so the collective agreement can go into effect in the middle of next week."

Both parties refused to comment further on the deal. Initially, the players' association refused to accept FIFA rules on the payment of transfer sums for players younger than 23 years of age after the expiration of their contracts.
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