Faltering France visit buoyant Israel on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier that could have enormous ramifications for the two nations at opposite ends of the European pecking order.
The eagerly-awaited Tel Aviv clash is one of 21 European qualifying games on Wednesday, with Serbia and Montenegro versus Spain, Slovakia versus Portugal and Greece versus Albania among the other highlights.
France, the 1998 world and 2000 European champions, have looked in a sorry state during their Group Four campaign, which began with an inauspicious goalless home draw with the Israelis last September.
Two more goalless Paris draws against Ireland and Switzerland and 2-0 away wins over the Faroe Islands and Cyprus have left France on nine points from five games, along with Israel and Ireland. Switzerland are also still in the hunt on six with a game in hand and will expect to beat Cyprus in Zurich on Wednesday.
France have yet to concede a goal but, having scored just four, it is hardly a record to be proud of for a team blessed with such talented players.
With difficult away matches in Ireland and Switzerland still to come, the team sitting behind only Brazil in the FIFA world rankings are by no means guaranteed a place in the 2006 finals.
WOEFUL FINISHING
France dominated against the Swiss on Saturday but were let down by woeful finishing, particularly by David Trezeguet, who missed a sitter late on.
"I will make up for this in Israel," the striker said.
France coach Raymond Domenech is not panicking yet but with the group so tight, Trezeguet says there is no room for error. "Even with so many games remaining, the first top team to lose is dead," he said.
Israel hold a special place in the memory of French soccer fans but it is one they will not want refreshed.
France were cruising towards qualification for the 1994 World Cup as they led Israel in their penultimate qualifier in Paris, only to concede two late goals to lose 3-2 -- Israel's only win of the campaign.
Needing a point to qualify, they then leaked another late goal to lose 2-1 Bulgaria and miss out on the finals.
Israel, whose only appearance in a major tournament came in the 1970 World Cup, remained in the hunt for their second with another last-minute goal on Saturday as substitute Abas Suan lashed in a 25-metre drive to earn a 1-1 home draw with Ireland.
Serbia and Montenegro are seeking their first finals appearance, although they have previously graced tournaments as part of Yugoslavia, and they face a test of their credentials with a Group Seven showdown with Spain in Belgrade.
The Serbians lead the group with 10 points but it is a tally inflated by two wins over San Marino. Spain, held to draws in Bosnia and Lithuania, have eight points but will expect to resume their usual position atop their qualifying group before long.
OLD FOES
European champions Greece were brought down to earth with a thump after their success in Portugal last year when they lost their first World Cup qualifier in Albania.
They have the chance for revenge against their neighbours and old foes in Athens, where they will hope to make it four wins in a row in Group Two.
Greece are second on 11 points, three behind Ukraine, who host Denmark (nine).
The top two meet in Group Three as Slovakia and Portugal, both on 13 points from five games, clash in Bratislava.
Elsewhere, most of the favourites will expect to bang in the goals against lesser lights.
Group Six leaders England, 4-0 winners over Northern Ireland on Saturday, host an Azerbaijan side thumped 8-0 by Poland, with the Poles taking their turn against Northern Ireland.
The Netherlands, fresh from an impressive 2-0 win in Romania, will look to consolidate their position on top of Group One at home to Armenia, while the Czech Republic, a point behind, will expect to make it five wins in a row when they play Andorra away.
There are four games in the South American qualifying competition on Wednesday, including leaders Argentina at home to Colombia and second-placed Brazil crossing the border to Uruguay.
Mexico, who beat Untied States 2-1 on Saturday, can take a stranglehold of their CONCACAF group with a win in Panama while the US face a tricky home game against second-placed Guatemala.
Both groups in the Asian zone are also in action, with favourites South Korea hosting Uzbekistan and Japan playing Bahrain.
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