Barthez sure France will win

The 1998 world champions have struggled in their qualifying campaign and their South Africa dreams hinge on the must-win two-leg tie with Ireland on November 14 and 18.

Ireland, currently ranked 34th in the world, made the playoffs courtesy of a blemish-free qualifying campaign, where they won four matches and drew six to finish second behind Group 8 leaders and defending champions Italy.

Tricky test

France have a tricky test as they first visit Croke Park and then play host to the Irish, and legendary French goalkeeping great Barthez believes the away tie will be a baptism by fire for Raymond Domenech's young side.

Asked for the reason behind France's dismal show, former Manchester United man Barthez, who was in the city to attend the Chivas Legends Dinner, said: "It's just a lack of experience; they are a young side, but they are learning and improving steadily and how far they will ultimately go [in the World Cup] is difficult to say because they must first qualify for the tournament. They have a tough match [against Ireland] in the play-offs and [winning the first round of the play-off] will be a big step towards qualifying." Barthez, who shares the record for the most clean sheets in World Cup finals with Peter Shilton (10 matches), feels France are in dire straits because of a completely new team, a squad that only features a handful of players who finished runners-up to Italy on penalties in 2006. "It's very hard to compare this team with the one that won the 1998 World Cup. The average age of that team was around 28, whereas the current team is young and with an average age of 22 or 23, so it's hard to compare the two. But in my opinion France is building a team for the future for the next four to eight years. The current team is young and very inexperienced and with time they have the potential of becoming a good side," said Barthez, who won 87 caps with France.

Barthez hasn't played competitively for over two years, but at the same time he hasn't completely ruled out a move to a country like the UAE, which has a "fantastic" location and a vibrant football culture. Currently involved with the France national team as one of its goalkeeping coaches, Barthez sometimes slides his hands into his racing gloves too, which allow him to double up as a racecar driver. But he said: "The UAE is a fantastic place, so why not. If someone does approach me, you never know what can happen. Anything can happen in life."

Factfile

Name: Fabien Alain Barthez

Date of birth: June 28, 1971

Place of birth: Lavelanet, France

Height: 1.80 metres

Playing position: Goalkeeper

Career (Apps): 1990-92 Toulouse (26); 1992-95 Marseille (142); 1995-2000 AS Monaco (142); 2000-04 Manchester United (92); 2004-06 Marseille (74); 2006-07 Nantes (14)

Honours: TEAM: Champions League: 1993; France Ligue 1: 1997, 2000; Premier League: 2001, 2003; Fifa World Cup: 1998; European Championship: 2000; Fifa Confederations Cup: 2003;

INDIVIDUAL: Most capped French goalkeeper: 87; All-time France World Cup appearances: 17; Most World Cup clean sheets: 10; European Footballer of the Year (Best Goalkeeper): 1998, 2000.