Coach Urges More Bite From Toothless France Against Korea

The 1998 champions made a hesitant start to their World Cup campaign, eking out an uninspiring goalless draw against Switzerland to leave them two points behind Dick Advocaat's Koreans in Group G.

That result extended France's goal drought to their last four World Cup matches after they returned home from Asia in 2002 without scoring.

Domenech, skipper Zinedine Zidane and company know that has to change come Sunday.

Les Bleus' manager, speaking at press conference Thursday, said: "We were solid against Switzerland, now I want us to add other aspects to our game. I want us to be more adventurous - I want to set the dogs free against Korea."

"The Swiss match confirmed the solidity of our basic play, but the team were holding themselves back, a little hesitant. I want them to build on this sound foundation and show a more imaginative face on Sunday, to be more audacious. It's more a mental thing."

The match in Leipzig has taken on a do-or-die complexion as defeat against the 2002 semi-finalists would leave France with a nervy must-win game against Togo and for other results to go their way to scrape through as runners-up with Spain favorites to be waiting for them in the next stage.

At the back of their minds is the chastening experience of the last World Cup where they never recovered from an opening loss to Senegal to crash out in the first round.

Domenech sees a progressive improvement

"I hope we can improve from our first match. The team must build on this beginning but you know there are some teams that may win their opening game five or six nil, then not make it into the next round," Domenech added. "Little by little my team is advancing; our aim is to stay in this competition as long as possible."

"Now the objective is to put all our force into playing South Korea."

Domenech reckons the Asians represent a more formidable foe than Kobi Kuhn's Swiss side. "They're fast, they want to attack, they want to defend, they've got quality players. I believe it'll be tougher than our last game."

He refused to disclose how he was planning to resolve France's impotency up front, and would not be drawn on whether he would introduce David Trezeguet, who scored in a friendly against a local Hanover side on Wednesday, with Thierry Henry in attack.

Isolated Henry hoping for more support

Henry was used as a lone striker against the Swiss in Stuttgart on Tuesday, but failed to replicate his form for Arsenal.

"It's only Thursday. Even if I have an idea about what system I'll use I'll keep it to myself. We've still got training sessions before the game to formulate the system. The system can change for the next two games but the idea is to have one in place for the rest of the competition after the group stage."

He said all his players were fit, including midfielder Florent Malouda who suffered a setback in training last week. "I think he's fine, he can play, he's done the same work as the others. There's no worry. There are no injuries, everyone's operational."

While South Korea, semi-finalists four years ago, took all three points against a weak Togo side, it will be another ball game against France in Leipzig. Advocaat knows they cannot be underestimated.

South Korea look to the past to plot the future

He is expected to field a more defensive team on Sunday and Spurs wing-back Lee Young-Pyo believes South Korea can cause an upset if they show the same attitude and commitment as the 2002 team.

"We have to play the Korean way to beat France," he said. "We have to pressurize them the way we did teams in 2002. If we play to the same level as we did four years ago we can beat France."