France targets semis

Host seeks imposing performance against Japan

ST ETIENNE, France (Reuters) -- France will be looking to re-discover some lost sparkle when the holder takes on Japan in Friday's clash in the Confederations Cup.

France, which struggled to defeat a combative Colombia 1-0 on Wednesday, would all but seal a semifinal place from Group A by beating a Japan side which comfortably beat New Zealand 3-0.

However, France coach Jacques Santini will want to avoid a repeat of the last 20 minutes at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, when the host conceded a series of scoring chances.

A combination of the woodwork and Gregory Coupet's goalkeeping kept it in front after Thierry Henry's first-half penalty, as cracks appeared in a hitherto solid defensive wall.

Santini put the problems down to the physical shape of his squad, who will have inevitably lost match fitness after about a month away from competitive action.

He is also going into the tournament without some key players in the middle of the park.

Zidane's absence

France is bound to miss the likes of playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele, both on club duty with Real Madrid, along with the injured Patrick Vieira.

Despite the absences and the nerve-jangling finale, Santini and his players can draw comfort, though, from simply having got the job done.

France has always struggled against South American opposition -- having lost a friendly 2-1 to Chile in 2001 and drawn 0-0 with Uruguay at the 2002 World Cup.

Wednesday's result was also a marked improvement on the start of the defense of its world crown in South Korea, when the 1998 winner slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Senegal that heralded a humiliating first round exit.

Summing up, Henry told reporters: "We weren't sparklingly brilliant, but we did what we had to do.

"It isn't easy to get back into the swing of things just like that, and we just had to draw on our mental strength."

Japan will go into the game at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard having easily dispensed with a New Zealand side which looks destined for three straight defeats.

Shunsuke Nakamura struck twice while skipper Hidetoshi Nakata, who provided both authority and creativity in midfield, also got onto the score-sheet in a game in Paris that provided few indicators for Friday.

France would gladly settle for a repeat of its 1-0 Cup final win over the Japanese in 2001, thereby leaving its opponent and the Colombians to slug it out for the other semifinal place in the eight-nation tournament.

"You can't say that the game against Japan is going to be easier," Henry said. "The one thing that is sure, though, is that they've had an easier game than we did."

 

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