Cunningham wary of French threat
Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham is bracing himself for a tough clash with France next month as Les Bleus welcome back three high-profile veterans from retirement.
Italy are the next opponents for the Irish in a Lansdowne Road friendly on Wednesday but the visit of France on September 7, with Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram back in tow, was high on the agenda.
Ireland currently head a four-horse race in Group Four ahead of Switzerland, Israel and the French, who are three points adrift of manager Brian Kerr’s side with a match in hand.
“I wasn’t surprised at their return because there had been some talk of it,” said Birmingham centre-back Cunningham, fit again after a pre-season lung scare.
“France have not been at their best in this qualifying campaign. They’ve not found any real rhythm to their play, so psychologically to have these players back will be a boost, and almost definitely they will be stronger.
“Zidane is getting all the headlines, but Makelele and Thuram also add strength to their team, and with the three of them playing it will add real spice to a wonderful occasion – and make a victory taste that bit sweeter.”
All three are due to play for France in their own friendly against the Ivory Coast in Montpellier on Wednesday as under-pressure coach Raymond Domenech prepares for the clash with Ireland, preceded by a home game against the Faroe Islands.
Zidane is due to be handed the captain’s armband with immediate effect, unlike when Roy Keane returned from international exile as Kerr opted to keep faith with Cunningham.
The 34-year-old, though, can understand Domenech’s thinking, adding: “Looking from the outside I think Zidane, apart from being a wonderful footballer, comes across as a very humble human being.
“As a man he is very much respected within the French squad and by the French people. I wouldn’t have thought there would be any ill feeling with him taking the captaincy.”
Zidane, though, is certain to make Ireland’s players feel ill at ease on the night as Cunningham continued: “He is a world-class player.
“For a big man he has great feet, great close control, can manipulate the ball and can feel pressure. You feel as if you can never get that close to him.
“He also has a wonderful appreciation of space and players and always seems to pick the right ball at the right moment. There is a real aura about him, as with other world-class players who can inspire those around him.
“He will be a threat and we will speak about him, but he will not be the only item on the agenda because they can hurt us in other areas of the pitch with players we know well like Thierry Henry, Djibril Cisse, Patrick Vieira and [Ludovic] Giuly.
“But experience tells you you can’t affect what goes on in the other team. All we can do is be as effective and as organised as we can be, so on the night it will hopefully be good enough.
“It will be the quality of our performance that will dictate what we take from the game.”
At least in Cunningham’s eyes, Italy represent the ideal opposition ahead of the game with France as he said: “We’ve had some great friendlies over the last few years against some high-profile teams, and this is another one.
“Italy have an aura about them as they’ve a great tradition in international football, with some wonderful players who are technically gifted.
“There are similarities with France in technical terms, while their patience and composure is something we will face against the French.
“They’re also very accomplished, are a real threat up front as they can counter-attack quickly and they can control the tempo of a game, feel their way into it, and then hurt you when they want.
“This is an important game, but our focus is on France, and this is a stepping stone towards that.”
Cunningham (stiff neck), Wigan midfielder Graham Kavanagh (foot) and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given all sat out training today and instead enjoyed a session in the swimming pool.
Chelsea winger Damien Duff and Newcastle defender Stephen Carr were also rested after playing yesterday, while Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne pulled out of training with a stiff back, but should be fit.
The onus in attack, meanwhile, is on Birmingham’s Clinton Morrison and Stephen Elliott of Sunderland as Tottenham’s Robbie Keane is out with an ankle injury.
