Win or bust for France

Anticipation is high in Rennes ahead of the last FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture in Europe - as just like four years ago France welcome England.

Tickets selling fast
On that occasion France won 1-0 in Saint Etienne to match their score in the first leg of the play-off. This time France must defeat England to pip their visitors to first place in Group 5 and a trip to China next September, and by Friday 16,000 tickets had already been sold for the Saturday evening fixture in the Stade de la Route de Lorient, the home of Stade Rennais FC. The team that emerges top will join other European qualifiers Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Goalless encounter
France, of course, appeared in the United States four years ago while England's sole qualification came eight years earlier. But England's form since hosting UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™, when like the French they went out in the group stage, has been superb while Les Bleues have been playing catch-up ever since an opening defeat at home by the Netherlands. But France were arguably the better team when drawing 0-0 in Blackburn in March, and three points on Saturday would ensure they pip England on the head-to-head record.

Loisel hopeful
Home coach Elisabeth Loisel, whose team set up this showdown with a 2-1 win against Austria last Saturday, expects another tight affair. "Logically, it should be a game of few chances as that was the case in the first game," she said. "England have a very good front line and a steady midfield. Our frontline is improving and we have three strikers who can decide games on their own. I know the girls will be up for it."

Pichon desire
Loisel's main doubt is over Laetitia Tonazzi, who picked up an ankle strain against Austria but expects to be fit. Her fellow forward Marinette Pichon, who has struck a French record 81 international goals including a vital effort in the first leg of the 2003 play-off, said: "Another World Cup would mean more positive publicity for women's football in France. We'll be playing for that. It would also confirm our progress after having qualified for the last two big tournaments [2003 World Cup and UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™]."

England bullish
While England cannot say that, they have not lost away from home over 90 minutes since September 2003 in Germany, and have spoken bullishly even about gaining a first win against France for 32 years. Coach Hope Powell said: "We have to go out there to win and express ourselves, it's very dangerous to go for the draw. Hopefully, we can put on a performance like we did against the Netherlands [winning 4-0 in August]. With the current run of form we have to go into the game believing in ourselves and believing that we are capable of getting the result we want."

Televised live
England are at full strength, other than for the long-term absence of captain Faye White with torn knee ligaments and Jo Potter who suffered an ankle injury and has been replaced by Lianne Sanderson. Arsenal LFC defender Mary Phillip - the sole survivor from the 1995 squad - has taken over the armband from White, and will be hoping another club-mate, Kelly Smith, can reproduce the hat-trick form shown against the Netherlands that had Dutch coach Vera Pauw hailing the playmaker as the world's best. Meanwhile, for fans not lucky enough to be among the ticket-holders in Rennes there is a consolation as the game is being televised live in both countries.