France may miss Confederations Cup
PARIS, France (Reuters) -- A heavy domestic schedule might force France to consider missing the next Confederations Cup in Germany in 2005, French sports daily L'Equipe has reported.
"If we were able not to take part, we would not," French federation president Claude Simonet said.
"Our schedule is a problem. If we go to the Confederations Cup, we might have the French Cup final during the tournament," he added.
France's Ligue 1 has 20 clubs and its president, Frederic Thiriez, fears the league might not be able to fit in the 38 rounds of games should Les Bleus travel to Germany at the end of the 2004-05 season.
France have won the past two Confederations Cups, retaining their crown in 2003 by beating Cameroon in the final at the Stade de France in June.
French coach Jacques Santini may prefer to take part, however, as the tournament comes a year before the 2006 World Cup, which is also in Germany.
"I feel the coach thinks the Confederations Cup could be a good preparation for the World Cup," Simonet said.
"But I remember we won this competition in 2001 in South Korea before the World Cup debacle nobody can forget. It makes you think."
France, who were champions, were knocked out in the first round of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, without scoring a single goal.
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