1.  Earlier this week, French defender Bixente Lizarazu was asked about the pressures of trying to repeat.

2.  Fadiga jumped over a tackle attempt by French defender Frank LeBoeuf, carried the ball to the end line and turned toward the goal.

3.  The United States recruited David Regis, a competent French defender who had married an American and whose citizenship was rushed through.

4.  This allowed French defenders to advance.

5.  Parma will rely on key French defender Lilian Thuram and on the scoring talents of Enrico Chiesa and Crespo.

6.  At Vicenza, Inter Milan will be without suspended French defender Jocelyn Angloma.

7.  Berger ran past two French defenders wide on the left to burst inside the area and was foiled when Lama raced off his line to dive at his feet.

8.  But Bayern will sorely miss French defender Bixente Lizarazu and midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic, who are both still recovering.

9.  But French defender Lilian Thuram dismissed suggestions it was time for coach Roger Lemerre to change tactics.

10.  Casiraghi could well be joined at the Bridge by another Italian-based superstar after French defender Marcel Desailly agreed to meet with Colin Hutchinson for talks Saturday.