France v Cyprus: If Brian Kerr thinks he has job security problems ahead of this evening's game against Switzerland he should spare a thought for his French counterpart, Raymond Domenech, whose position is the subject of renewed speculation despite last month's win in Dublin.

Domenech has been under intense pressure within France since his team's poor start to the campaign which many of his critics believed was a direct result of his inability to prevent several major stars retiring or to maintain good relations with some of those who stayed on.

The return of Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram and Claude Makelele (despite the fact that none has any apparent regard for him) and the subsequent 1-0 win the team achieved over Ireland were believed to have strengthened his position. But after renewed criticism by French Federation vice-president Michel Platini there have been suggestions he will be dismissed and replaced with Didier Deschamps unless France win so convincingly tonight that they claim top spot in Group Four regardless of how the Swiss fare in Dublin.

The coach's contract expires in June and so the cost of replacing him would be minimal while Deschamps' close relationship with his former team-mates of the World Cup winning side, his track record at Monaco who he guided to the final of the Champions League as well as his current availability have made him a strong favourite to get the job if Domenech is pushed.

Ironically, it is when France need them most that David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, the best two strikers of the squad, are not available. Trezeguet with 31 goals from 59 appearances is sidelined by a strained thigh muscle while Henry, 30 goals in 73, is recovering from a recurrent groin injury.

However, France will start tonight with three strikers, Sidney Govou, Sylvain Wiltord and Djibril Cisse, in the all-out search for goals

Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol, returns from suspension and will bring his valuable skills and speed to the right of defence.