France squeezed into the World Cup finals next summer in Germany with a comfortable 4-0 win over Cyprus Wednesday night but they had to sweat it out until the final whistle before finally learning that Switzerland were held to a 0-0 draw by the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
When the news finally filtered through that the Swiss had failed to win with minutes left, a huge roar erupted at the Stade de France and the party kicked off.
“Weve made it and thats the most important thing but it definitely wasnt easy,” said France coach Raymond Domenech. “The crowd were great tonight and gave us a lift but it was nerve-wracking.
First-half goals from Zinedine Zidane, Sylvain Wiltord and Vikash Dhorasoo followed by a close-range effort from Ludovic Guily gave under-fire coach Domenech his first win at home and a place at the World Cup which kicks off next June 9th.
“The most important thing was to get to Germany and we made it so its fantastic,” added Zidane.
France began the match at breakneck speed and immediately set forward in search of goals, knowing a 5-0 win would erase a one-goal win for the Swiss and ensure qualification regardless.
Zidane almost scored after 90 seconds with an audacious long-distance shot but with a string of chances falling by the wayside and the crowd becoming increasingly more frustrated, they were simply trying too hard.
Zidane finally broke the deadlock when he cooly chested down a cross from the right and slotted home to put France in front on 29 minutes.
The French side smelled blood and their relentless pressure paid off with number two three minutes later.
Cisse shook off a nightmare start by battling for possession just inside the Cyprus area and slipped a pass through for Wiltord who chipped the charging keeper.
A goal just before half-time was just what the doctor ordered and PSG playmaker Vikash Dhorasoo duly obliged with a strike just before the break to put France 3-0 and into a commanding position.
The floodgates were expected to open after the break but Cyprus held firm and France wasted chance after chance to keep the suspense bubbling.
All eyes were on Dublin where the dreaded news of a Swiss goal threatened to spoil the occasion but it never happened and France go to Germany while Ireland are out and the Swiss go into the play-offs.
