BERLIN, 18 June 2006 — Going into their first Group G game against Switzerland, France was sharing second place in the list of teams that had failed to score in the most number of consecutive matches at the World Cup finals.

After the game against the Swiss they left such illustrious footballing nations as Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, El Salvador and Zaire trailing behind them. Whereas the above have all managed not to score for three games, France has not not done so for four.

The goalless draw in Stuttgart sees the Les Bleus rapidly moving toward Bolivia, who spent the first 517 minutes of their World Cup history waiting for a goal. France have gone without scoring for 360 minutes.

Today the 1998 world champions face South Korea in Leipzig.

Good news is that their opponents seem a far cry from the side that took the footballing world by storm four years ago on home soil and finished fourth, but bad news is that the Asians are not known to be a side that leaks goals.

With Korea having won their first match against Togo, France will probably have to win to stay in the running for a place in the next round.

Also needing to win to keep alive their hopes of a place in the round of the last 16 are first-match losers Croatia and Japan in Group F.

The only problem is, the two face each other in Nuremberg today, which of course means there can only be one winner — or two drawers. Niko Kovac, who had to be taken off against Brazil with an injury, says he will be ready to play against Japan — injured or not.

“This is a win-all or lose-all match. Whichever team loses will be out. If we win we will have a real final for the second place in the group against Australia,” the midfielder said.

Coach Zlatko Kranjcar downplayed the 1-0 defeat against Brazil. “We have no more pressure than we did before that match. We knew from the word go that the most important matches would be the two games against Australia and Japan. Nothing has changed.”

The Japanese, who gave away a 1-0 lead in the last six minutes against Australia to lose 3-1, are also optimistic. Asked by fifaworldcup.com whether he believes they can get four points from their remaining matches against Croatia and Brazil, star player Hidetoshi Nakata said: “We still have two games left. Why would we think about winning four points if we can get six?” He is convinced his side can beat Croatia. “They are a good team but I still think we are better.” Looking for better is Brazil against Australia. The Selecao looked fairly impressive going forward in their first match against Croatia, but then failed to do anything with the many chances they created.

Ronaldo, who has been accused of being overweight and earlier in the week underwent a medical examination to find a reason for dizzy spells, is likely to be given another chance by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, but it could well be his last.

The Australians, who suddenly find themselves sitting top of the group ahead of the five-time champions, are trying to convince themselves that the match against Brazil is just like any other.

“It’s no different to playing any other team really,” said Socceroos striker Harry Kewell. “You’re not going to go into a game thinking you’re going to lose.” The Australians are full of the psychobabble of self-talk as the clash with Brazil looms. “They’re not superheroes,” says captain Mark Viduka. “They’re people like us. They’re just 11 men.” Hardly. Ronaldinho probably earns more than the Australian team combined. By most people’s reckoning, Brazil could field two World Cup-class teams in Germany and end up playing each other in the final.