Source: Daily_Mail
Evra refusing to start the party as France hold narrow lead over Ireland
Defender Patrice Evra will take nothing for granted as France attempt belatedly to book their place at next summer's World Cup finals. [LNB]The French took a significant step towards South Africa in Dublin on Saturday evening when Nicolas Anelka's lone strike gave them a 1-0 play-off first-leg lead and set them up perfectly for Wednesday's return in Paris. [LNB]However, Manchester United full-back Evra knows there is still work to be done before under-pressure coach Raymond Domenech can heave a huge sigh of relief. [LNB] Eyes on the prize: Evra remains cautious ahead of Wednesday[LNB]He said: 'It is just half-time. On Wednesday, we have a big game. Ireland will come to the Stade de France for a win and we need to be strong again and win that game. It's very important. [LNB]'Now it is only one game. France want to go to the World Cup - I want to win on Wednesday and go to the World Cup.'[LNB]If France were deserved winners in front of a packed house of 74,103 at Croke Park, the margin of victory illustrates that the tie is not yet over. [LNB] Indeed, had it not been for two late saves by keeper Hugo Lloris from Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan, Domenech's men might have had only an away goal to show for their efforts. [LNB]Evra said: 'It was not easy. From free-kicks, Ireland are a difficult team to play against. They had never lost [in qualification] - Saturday night was their first defeat.'[LNB]Skipper Thierry Henry agreed with Evra's assessment of the situation going into the second leg, and insisted there is no room for complacency. [LNB]He said: 'I am happy, but it is kind of half and half. There is still 90 minutes to play in France, so I can only talk about that and being happy. [LNB] Nic of time: Anelka was the France hero on Saturday[LNB]'We have got another game on Wednesday and this Irish team is a very good team. They showed they can score goals - fortunately for us, they didn't and we did. [LNB]'We got kind of a lucky goal, but in saying that, we played well in the second half. But there is still 90 minutes to go, so I can only answer that question properly over there.'[LNB]France may have enjoyed a stroke of good fortune with their goal, but they appeared to be unfortunate when Shay Given's 69th-minute challenge on Evra was not rewarded with a penalty by German referee Felix Brych. [LNB]The defender said: 'I am not happy because I think it was a penalty. If it was not a penalty, why didn't he give me a yellow card?'[LNB] Thierry Henry's France boys torn between tantrums and true qualityRep of Ireland 0 France 1: Irish rage at Diarra slur as they head for ParisStoke midfielder Whelan flourishing under Trapattoni's Republic reignJamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Let's not go nuts over defeat to BrazilMANCHESTER UNITED FC
