ST ETIENNE (France), June 8: Just when David Trezeguet opened the scoring in France's final World Cup warm-up game, Djibril Cisse was passing behind the goal on a stretcher.

The image, 31 minutes into Wednesday's match against China that France eventually won 3-1, showed that the French World Cup challenge is still very much alive and kicking.

The mood in the France team, however, was clearly depressed after the news that Cisse had fractured his right leg and would miss the finals in Germany.

“Everybody was in a state of shock in the locker room,” said France coach Raymond Domenech. “I even saw a few who were close to tears.”

Like in 2002, when Zinedine Zidane sustained a thigh injury in a friendly five days from the finals, France suffered a vicious blow just before leaving for a World Cup.

Cisse, of course, does not have as much influence on the team as Zidane but his misfortune was nevertheless painful for everybody.

“We were all thinking about him during the match,” said defender William Gallas. “This is extremely difficult to accept for him but also for the rest of us. We're losing a team mate and excellent player.”

Domenech now has until Monday, one day before France open their World Cup campaign playing Switzerland in Stuttgart, to name a replacement.

Nicolas Anelka is the favourite with Ludovic Giuly and Sidney Govou also hoping to be called up.

France, whose other opponents in Group G will be South Korea and Togo, were to leave St Etienne on Thursday for their base in northern Germany, a castle turned into a luxury hotel where they hope to stay a long time.

In 2002, France, who were the defending champions, were sent packing after failing to win a match and even to score a goal in the group stage.—Reuters