Soccer-World-Swiss coach relies on Arsenal link to tame Henry

BAD BERTRICH, Germany, June 9 (Reuters) Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn says he hopes his two Arsenal defenders can be of use against club team mate Thierry Henry when Switzerland face France in their opening World Cup match.

Central defenders Philippe Senderos, 20, and Johan Djourou, 19, are both in the Switzerland squad and either could be tasked with minding Henry in Tuesday's Group G encounter.

''It's certainly no disadvantage if you know how the other player likes to run or if you have had the chance to study him very closely in daily training sessions,'' Kuhn told a media conference today.

Switzerland managed to draw both at home and away with France in the qualifying stages of the World Cup, but Henry was absent through injury on both occasions.

''With the exception of France's 3-1 win over us (at the 2004 European Championships) in Portugal, Henry has never played against us,'' Kuhn pointed out. ''And I have always seen that as a loss for the French team.

''He is one of the best strikers in the world, if not the best, and I see his inclusion as an important difference to the two qualifying matches.'' THIGH STRAIN Senderos, who made his international debut against the French during the first World Cup qualifier in March 2005 , has been battling against a minor thigh strain but is expected to be fit for Tuesday's encounter.

The former under-17 European Champion trained separately from his Swiss team mates on Thursday but is ready to resume full training today, according to team doctor Roland Grossen.

Djourou, who only made his international debut three months ago in a friendly win over Scotland, seems more likely to start Tuesday's game on the bench as cover for regular centre back Patrick Mueller.

Nevertheless, the Arsenal teenager pressed his claims for a starting place with an impressive performance against Italy last week.

Right-back Valon Behrami could meanwhile miss out on the game entirely as he continues to struggle with an inflamed groin muscle.

''We are having to follow Behrami's injury day by day, and see how it develops,'' Grossen told reporters today.

There was a further injury scare for the Swiss during today's training session when left-back Ludovic Magnin was caught in the face by fellow defender Philipp Degen.

Magnin lay on the ground for several minutes but sustained only a small cut to his nose, later receiving three stitches.

Togo and South Korea complete Group G.

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