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France (4-4-2): Fabian Barthez (Capt); Sebastien Squillaci, Gael Givet, Mikael Silvestre, William Gallas; Sylvian Wiltord, Robert Pires, Rio Mavuba, Oliver Dacourt; Djibril Cisse, Thierry Henry.
Analysis: Irish fans will be quietly confident after seeing the starting line-up. Givet and Squillaci both play for AS Monaco but are far from household names in British or Irish circles - they will both be earning their fourth caps.
33-year-old Barthez is well known to fans of English football but has not been the most reliable of 'keepers in the course of his career.
20-year-old Angolan-born Rio Antonio Mavuba is another unknown quantity, plying his trade in the French league for Bordeaux.
With Liverpool's Djibril Cisse not firing on all cylinders and Sylvain Wiltord not setting the world alight during his time with Arsenal, some Ireland fans will look at this line-up with great excitement.
Brian Kerr will make sure that his team do not get over confident however. He will know all too well that a team with players such as Silvestre, Gallas, Pires and Henry can never be underestimated.
The French, after a home 0-0 draw with Israel and a 2-0 away success against the Faroes last time out, are currently third on goal difference in Group - behind Ireland and Switzerland respectively.