|FIFA WORLDCUP Current Standings:

~15th June 2006

|Henry blames Ribery

Thierry Henry blamed French newcomer Franck Ribery for wasting France’s best chance of ending their FIFA World Cup™ goal drought against Switzerland.

Striker Henry, who struggled during the 0-0 draw with the Swiss on Tuesday, hardly creating a chance, referred on Wednesday to an incident 37 minutes into the game in Stuttgart.

Ribery, starting a match for France for the first time, moved past Swiss defender Philippe Senderos down the right to feed Henry in the area but his pass was not accurate enough and meant the Arsenal forward needed to control the ball before shooting.

"Franck placed the ball behind me instead of placing it in front of me," Henry told reporters at France’s training camp.

"If he had placed it in front me I could have pushed it inside an empty goal without controlling it and that would have been a goal. That’s how close we came to scoring."

The striker’s shot towards goal hit Swiss defender Patrick Mueller’s hand and the French fans shouted for a penalty but the referee ruled otherwise.

Henry said after the match that he felt France should have been awarded a penalty. "I’m sure," he repeated on Wednesday. "It happened just in front of me and I saw it well."

France have not scored a goal in the finals since they won the trophy in 1998, having gone out in the first round in 2002 without scoring a goal.

Ribery, who had produced sparkling displays in his first three appearances for France, as a substitute in warm-up games, could not live up to high expectations against Switzerland.

"He is young and it was not easy for him," Henry said of Ribery’s performance. "He brought us what he could and some of it was good."

Henry himself was a huge disappointment for the French fans, looking only a shadow of the player he is at Arsenal.

"I have no regrets," he said. "I kept trying to put myself in a position to score and there were no one-on-one situations. You have regrets when you miss those."

Henry blamed a slow, dry pitch for the game’s lack of pace and admitted that he ran out of steam in the last 30 minutes of a match played under stifling heat early in the evening.

"Our next match will be played later and I hope they will water the pitch," he added, his mind already on France’s second Group G game, against South Korea on Sunday in Leipzig.

Asked if he was afraid France might fail to survive a group also featuring Togo, Henry said: "No, I’m afraid to die but I’m never afraid of losing a football game."

Players Comments

(France Draws 0-0 with Switzerland)

Thierry HENRY (FRA)
It seems every time we play (Switzerland) it’s a draw. We are kind of happy with the 0-0. We had quite a lot of chances ion the first half and we can be satisfied with that.

Patrick VIEIRA (FRA)
It was difficult for both teams, but we defended well. We were sure that were going to score and it was difficult for the Swiss to play. We still have a lot confidence.

Fabien BARTHEZ(FRA)
It was very, very hot. We will get stronger in the next two matches and today we had two strong teams playing one another. 

Ludovic MAGNIN (SUI)
You can’t say that the draw was two points lost or one point gained. We could have won, but so could the French. We had big problems with the sun in the first half. It was practically shining in our mouths!

Johann VOGEL (SUI)
It’s always hard to play against a team like France. They were more aggressive in the first half, but in the second we had quite a few good chances.

Philipp DEGEN (SUI)
I am satisfied - the result was OK. We knew it was going to be hard in the heat and that hindered a fast game, but we tried to play aggressive. Now we have to win both games against Togo and Korea Republic. We had a lot big opportunities. The French have sensational players and a great defence. My right foot is injured, but I am used to it now.

Pascal ZUBERBUEHLER (SUI)
We are satisfied with the result… it’s positive for us because a point was enough. France were more dangerous in the first half, but they were not better and we had our chances. We have to play with more concentration next time. Two or three times we were dangerous in front of goal.

Patrick MULLER (SUI)
Three quarters of the stadium were red and that was extraordinary to see.

KAKA (BRASIL), The Man of the Match

I’m pleased, of course, but we’ve got more in our locker. For a first performance, it was good enough. The scoreline shows that it wasn’t an easy game, but then there aren’t any easy games at this tournament. Maybe it will keep our feet on the ground a little, and make us work even harder to improve. I was delighted to score a goal in my first World Cup match. It’s an honour and a privilege just to be here.

| Current Standings- 14th June 2006

Its FIFA WORLD CUP Season!!

The football fever is back! This 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP will be held in Germany,the WORLD CUP champion for 3 times.

32 international teams from all regions  around the world are fighting to be the champion in this historical events.