Desailly in line for recall

'Worked hard'
The Chelsea FC central defender, who played against Croatia in the semi-finals as Les Bleus won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is expected to earn his 116th cap at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. "I'm back at 100 per cent," Desailly said. "I have worked hard over the last few days and I am ready to go if the coach decides to field me. I want to help us into the quarter-finals."

Overwhelming favourites
France are the overwhelming favourites to top Group B after coming from behind to beat England 2-1 and dent their hopes of eventual section supremacy. Coach Jacques Santini fielded Mikaël Silvestre alongside Lilian Thuram in the centre of the holders' defence at the Estádio da Luz with William Gallas and Bixente Lizarazu willing raiders from full-back.

Oozing confidence
However, Santini is expected to break up his back line in Leiria with Desailly stepping in alongside Thuram, another centurion, and Willy Sagnol replacing Gallas as right-back. "Whether I play or not is not important," Desailly said. "It is much more important that the team qualifies. We cannot help being the favourites - if England felt inferior to us so must Croatia."

Makelele doubt
Desailly's club-mate Claude Makelele remains doubtful, although Santini said the midfield player "is much better" as he recovers from a shoulder injury picked up against England. AS Roma's Olivier Dacourt, who came on for Makelele after Zinedine Zidane had stroked home the winning penalty on Sunday but did not touch the ball, stands by to replace him.