With France set to open up their Play-Off series with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, legend Zinedine Zidane has opened up on what will be needed for Raymond Domenech’s squad to head back to the Stade de France on the return leg and the chance to participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Via SoccerRepublic 

“The first leg is going to be very difficult,” Zidane told Le Figaro. “Ireland has good players and when World Cup qualification is at stake, everyone lifts their game.”

Zidane believes that France must set their stall out early in Croke Park in order to get the right result. To do that, he claimed Domenech’s side must be ready to soak up pressure and prepare themselves for a match of real physical intensity.

“For the first leg in Dublin, they’ll have to place special emphasis on defence. The priority of priorities will be to avoid conceding a goal. After that, it’ll be a case of keeping control of our physical commitment otherwise things can change very quickly.

“I think the return match at the Stade de France will be a little less difficult. Over the two fixtures, logic says we should win. Ireland was the most difficult draw of the four teams possible [for the playoff] but it’s still very much within our reach.”

Yet he reiterated the prevalent belief around Paris that shackling Ireland in Dublin would allow France to opportunity to use their superior footballing abilities for the return leg in Paris.

Zidane added: “We cannot do otherwise. Technically, the French players would be superior. The return match will prove it. I am confident that the two ties will propel us to South Africa.”