France's pitiful draw gives press the blues

PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) French newspapers were left in despair after Les Bleus's embarrassing 1-1 draw against South Korea in their World Cup Group G match.

The result leaves France, who have lost the magic that delivered the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, needing to beat Togo by two goals in their last group game to guarantee a place in the knockout stage in Germany.

''Hopeless!,'' ran the headline of sports daily L'Equipe on Monday, with a picture of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez on his knees after Park ji-Sung's late equaliser.

''Dominating and well organised in the first half, Les Bleus nosedived in the second. It is very worrying,'' wrote the paper.

''On Friday in Cologne, Les Bleus will still have doubts,'' it said looking ahead to the game with the African side.

''Les Bleus in danger,'' said news daily Le Figaro.

''France fail,'' bemoaned Liberation.

In 2002, holders France were sent packing after the first round without scoring a goal. In that tournament they also needed a victory by two goals over Denmark in their last group game to go through, only for them to lose 2-0.

Daily Le Parisien called for the return of Juventus striker David Trezeguet, whose deadly skills in the box would have been helpful against the Koreans in the second half.

Coach Raymond Domenech did bring Trezeguet on in the 90th minute for Zinedine Zidane but by then it was too late.

REUTERS PM RK1555