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PARIS, Oct 13 (Internet): France scored a stylish 4-0 victory over Cyprus to finish top of the tightly-contested Group Four and secure a berth for the 2006 World Cup.
The former world and European champions finished with 20 points from 10 games while Switzerland, second thanks to their goalless draw in Ireland, will go into the play-offs next month.
Les Bleus, despite being deprived of their best two strikers David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry who were both injured, struck three times before the break to provide their most convincing performance since Raymond Domenech became coach in July 2004, wire services report.
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.
"It was a very tough night as we had to wait for the very last minutes before we could breath a sigh of relief," said Domenech. "But we did what we had to do tonight. Now, we are qualified and it's only what matters."
France had to score as many goals as possible to compensate a possible Swiss victory over Ireland in Dublin but it took them 29 minutes minutes to break down the Cyprus defence.
Zinedine Zidane, who had 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 ready to give everything they had to avoid the play-offs.
Djibril Cisse squandered four clear chances to find the net in the first half but he partly redeemed himself by setting up Wiltord for the second goal in the 31st.
The Olympique Lyon winger, one the best French players throughout the campaign, sent Dhorasoo away for the third, the Paris St Germain midfieder slotting the ball home with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle a minute from the break.
Midfielder Patrick Vieira, who had one of his worst outings for France in Bern last week, was replaced by Racing Lens's Alou Diarra the middle of the first half.
The Juventus Turin midfielder, visibly upset by Domenech's decision to take him off, stormed down to the changing rooms.
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