France's faith no comfort for Coupet

Grégory Coupet's position as France No1 seems secure despite an eight-month absence from the squad prior to tonight's friendly against Spain in Malaga.

'On top'
A knee injury has kept the Olympique Lyonnais custodian out of contention since June 2007, but – along with Thierry Henry, William Gallas, Willy Sagnol and Franck Ribéry – he looks sure to start France's UEFA EURO 2008™ opener against Romania on 8 June provided he is fit. "There is a clear hierarchy regarding this position and Grég is on top," said coach Raymond Domenech.

Safe bet
After six months out with damaged cruciate ligaments in his left knee, Coupet returned to action with Lyon in January. He made a big blunder in one of his first games back on 27 January – a fluffed clearance gifting AS Saint-Etienne the opener in a 1-1 derby draw – but it will be no surprise when he earns his 28th cap on Wednesday, with Mickaël Landreau returning to the bench.

Past disappointment
However, while France have total confidence in Coupet, the 35-year-old goalkeeper is taking nothing for granted just yet. "I don't feel like the door is that wide open for me," said the former St Etienne player. "There is a lot of work to do to get back to my best level looking ahead to [UEFA] EURO 2008™." Coupet is right to be wary. He was left with shattered dreams ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals as Fabien Barthez was handed the No1 shirt even though Coupet had just won a fifth successive French title with Lyon. "Time heals all wounds but I will never be able to forget that," he said. "It has changed my view of the job and of the France staff and squad."

New competitors
Barthez's retirement and the relative inexperience of his other contenders for the No1 shirt – Landreau and ACF Fiorentina's Sébastien Frey – have left Coupet in an unusually stable position this time around, and he is already looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup, saying: "I put no limits on my career." However, by that time he may have new competitors, with Olympique de Marseille's Steve Mandanda and OGC Nice's fellow 20-year-old Hugo Lloris both having been called up for the first time. "They are two very talented guys," said Coupet. "It's good to call them up now, to prepare the future."

Red shirts
France will wear red shirts for the game against Spain for the first time since a 15-0 loss against England in 1906. The red shirt – with blue shorts and socks – may well be France's away kit for UEFA EURO 2008™.