Togo making strides but outclassed by France

COLOGNE, June 24 (Reuters) Togo have made great strides in their first World Cup finals but in the end the gulf in class with France was too great, coach Otto Pfister said.

The French squandered a hatful of chances before finding their goal touch to beat the Africans 2-0 and move into the knockout stage where they will face Spain.

Togo were already out of the running having lost their opener 2-1 to South Korea and then gone down 2-0 to Switzerland.

Although they had pledged to battle hard for a face-saving win against their former colonial rulers, they finished their debut campaign bottom of the group and without a point.

''We played really well in the first half. The second half was more difficult because we were confronted by world class players and their class made the difference in the end,'' Pfister told a news conference after the game.

''Most of our players do not even play in the top divisions and they played a great match. I am not at all disappointed.'' Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor plays alongside France striker Thierry Henry at Arsenal but the rest of the squad earn their money among Europe's lesser lights such as Stade Brest in France, Italy's Benevento and Spain's Ciudad Murcia.

Pfister stressed that the heavily criticised French team, who had to win by two goals to guarantee a place in the second round, were extremely motivated and evidently improving.

''The same happened to the Brazilians. You saw how they started and then they got better. The same can happen with France too,'' he said.

Although Pfister's own future is unclear, he said he believed good things lay ahead for a young Togo team and added that he would also learn from his coaching experience with them.

''I believe that with professional management Togo will have a good future in African and world football,'' said the Swiss-based German who began his playing career in Cologne.

Togo's World Cup campaign was marred by a pay dispute and talk of a match boycott, which Pfister had previously said took their toll on the players' nerves.

It was hardly ideal for the coach either and he walked out just before the tournament began, saying the pay row made it impossible for him to do his job. But he returned to the fold in time for the opening match and seemed glad that he had.

REUTERS PM BD0927