A Tale of Two Cities. A historical novel by Charles Dickens set in London and Paris around the days of the French Revolution, but a title that could be used to outline the parlous state of two of Europe's learned countries ahead of the latest outbreak of World Cup qualifying fixtures. It is a plot that could get a classic reworking when the boisterous cities of Zagreb and Paris are twinned this evening.
England and France may be burgeoning football nations with two World Cup successes between them, but they are also two struggling sides being run by two bemused and bespectacled coaches, whose glasses could well be steaming up in anticipation of queasy moments ahead. France were humbled by Austria near the foot of the Alps for a second time in three months on Saturday. England must hope they can avoid a walloping in Zagreb for the second time in two years.
Defeat for Fabio Capello against Croatia will throttle any notions that the Italian coach carries in his hand luggage a toothbrush, and a magic formula. A 2-0 win over Andorra on Saturday did not illuminate the critical followers of the England national side, but Raymond Domenech is similarly bereft of a golden potion to apply to France's ills. A different patois brings with it a different accent on what will be deemed acceptable after it is all over. Two cities, two different fields and two sets of dilemmas.
After dropping out of the European Championship following a bruising 4-1 loss to Holland and a 2-0 defeat to Italy, France have been wincing. They have adopted a pained expression ever since losing the final of the World Cup in 2006 to Italy on penalties. For such a celebrated side, the malady lingers on, despite Domenech continuing to be full of bluster. His side looked pale in losing 3-1 on Saturday to an Austrian side who struggled to do anything right at their own hosting of the Euro 2008 tournament.
The effervescent Thierry Henry was teary in accepting the trauma. If France fail to fend off Serbia at the Stade de France, Domenech will depart his job. There is no greater certainty than that. He could be described as resembling one of the Marx brothers, or the actor Eugene Levy, Jim's Dad from American Pie, but his situation is far from comical. A coach probably knows he is in some sort of isolation when the country's national sports minister, in this case Bernard Laporte of France, feels moved to publicly endorse him.
A vote of confidence comes amid public cries of no confidence in France. There is a lack of va va voom, as Henry himself once declared in a car advert, emanating from this France side, yet Domenech feels there is enough about his side to rise from their sullen state. "Nobody said it would be easy, especially not me," he said. "We still have matches to play. Qualification plays itself out in a series of matches.
"There is one which is coming up on Wednesday against Serbia and we must be ready, with desire and determination to continue on this course of qualification." England failed to accompany France in qualifying for Euro 2008 after being slayed twice by Slaven Bilic's Croatia. That cost Steve McClaren his post as their head coach, but there have been few signs of a major recovery under Capello, despite his rich heritage in the game overseeing AC Milan.
A point for England in Zagreb would be gladly accepted. "I will be very happy if Croatia would play like Andorra. But I don't think that is going to happen," said Capello. Joe Cole scored twice against Andorra. He also found the net in the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in a friendly, and may gain in encouragement if Capello opts to go with him from the start. The Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe has admitted that England will accept a draw against a side who are ranking fifth in the world, 10 places higher than their opponents. He said: "A draw would be a great result in Croatia. We have to be strong and believe we are going to win because it is a massive game. But the most important thing is to get a result."
Croatia beat Kazakhstan on Saturday but Eduardo is injured and Niko Kranjcar is also out with an ankle problem. "The last time we beat England we didn't know how good we were," said Croatia's captain Niko Kovac. "We had a new manager and a new team, but this time, having beaten England twice, we go into the game full of confidence." Faced with confronting the land of Dickens, Croatia appear to be overflowing with great expectations.
dkane@thenational.ae
