Soccer: Stylish France demolish Cyprus to qualify for cup

France's stylish 4-0 victory over Cyprus was their most convincing performance since Raymond Domenech became coach in July 2004.

Les Bleus finished top of the tightly-contested group four and secured a berth for the 2006 finals.

The former world and European champions finished with 20 points from 10 games while Switzerland, second thanks to their goal-less draw in Ireland, will go into the play-offs next month.

Despite being deprived of their best two strikers, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, who were both injured, France struck three times before the break.

The French also sealed their first success at the Stade de France under Domenech and booked their trip for a world event via the qualifying round for the first time since 1986 when they were led by former No 10 Michel Platini.

France had to score as many goals as possible to compensate for a possible Swiss victory over Ireland in Dublin, but it took them 29 minutes to break down the Cyprus defence.

Zinedine Zidane, who has saved the French on so many occasions, showed the way again when he opened the scoring from close-range, netting a superb cross by returning defender Willy Sagnol.

Cyprus, who came to Paris looking for a draw, could hardly do anything against a hungry French side eager to avoid the play-offs.

Djibril Cisse set up Sylvain Wiltord for the second goal in the 31st minute.

The Olympique Lyon winger, one of the best French players throughout the campaign, sent Dhorasoo away for the third, the Paris St Germain midfielder slotting the ball home with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle a minute from the break.

In the second half, while the tension was growing as Ireland and Switzerland were stalled in a goal-less draw, substitute Ludovic Giuly scored the fourth goal in the dying minutes.

- REUTERS