France must be wary of Swiss, says coach Raymond

PARIS, May 22: France must be wary of Switzerland, their first opponents at the World Cup, coach Raymond Domenech said today.

The French and Swiss meet in their opening match in Group G in Stuttgart on June 13.

''I'm not really happy to have to take on the Swiss,'' Domenech told a news conference at Tignes ski resort in the Alps. ''We know them and they know us.

''It's the match I'm worried about for the time being,'' Domenech said. ''I'm dreaming about July 9 (the day of the final) but the Swiss could turn out to be a nightmare for us.'' Koebi Kuhn's team finished second behind France in their qualifying group. The Swiss managed a goalless draw at the Stade de France before Les Bleus snatched a lucky 1-1 result in a tense return in Bern.

France and Switzerland are the favourites in the group which also features South Korea and newcomers Togo.

The French squad arrived at Tignes yesterday. They are to spend five days in the tiny Alpine resort before returning to Paris for a warm-up against Mexico on Saturday.

REUTERS