CAPE TOWN (AFP) - French legend Marcel Desailly says there is no reason for pessimism despite his country's lacklustre form.
The former national captain - who was sent-off in the 1998 World Cup final when France beat Brazil - said he was confident Raymond Domenech's under-pressure team would turn the corner.
"We have a talented team and all they need to do is get on the right track," he told fifa.com as France were held to an uninspiring goalless draw by Uruguay in their World Cup opener on Friday.
"The players are in really good shape and it?s now up to the coach to get the tactics right.
"There?s no reason for pessimism. Things are going to work out fine. I think this generation is even more talented than ours was. They just haven?t had the chance to show it yet."
Desailly was captain of the team at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, when they were knocked out in the first round.
That tournament also saw them play a sterile goalless draw with Uruguay, but Desailly said he could see no comparisons between the French team then and the one now playing in South Africa.
"None whatsoever," said the 41-year-old Ghanaian-born former defender.
"Like I said before, I really had the feeling we were at the end of a cycle then. I have real belief in the current French team, though.
"I think they have a big future. They seem to have a lot of belief and now we?ll see what they can do. They've taken a lot of criticism lately but they can put all that behind them by starting off with a good win," added Desailly, who was also a member of the France side that won the Euro 2000 title.
France next play against Mexico in Polokwane on Thursday.
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F. Muslera | |
| 2 | D. Lugano |
 90+3'
|
| 16 | M. Pereira | |
| 3 | D. Godín | |
| 6 | M. Victorino |
59'
|
| 11 | Á. Pereira | |
| 15 |
D. Pérez
|
|
| 18 |
I. González
|
|
| 17 | E. Arévalo | |
| 9 |
L. Suárez
|
|
| 10 | D. Forlán | |
| Coach: O. Tabárez | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | H. Lloris | |
| 3 | E. Abidal | |
| 5 | W. Gallas | |
| 2 | B. Sagna | |
| 13 | P. Evra |
12'
|
| 7 | F. Ribéry |
19'
|
| 14 | J. Toulalan |
68'
|
| 19 | A. Diaby | |
| 8 |
Y. Gourcuff
|
|
| 10 |
S. Govou
|
|
| 21 |
N. Anelka
|
|
| Coach: R. Domenech | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 14 |
for I. González 63' |
65'
 81'
|
| 13 |
for L. Suárez 73' |
|
| 8 |
for D. Pérez 88' |
|
| 20 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 21 | ||
| 5 |
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 12 |
for N. Anelka 72' |
|
| 15 |
for Y. Gourcuff 75' |
|
| 11 |
for S. Govou 85' |
|
| 18 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 17 |
