Wednesday, 16th October, 2013
France coach Didier Deschamps is hoping FIFA can see sense in rethinking the seeding system for the World Cup playoffs, but refused to rate any of their potential opponents as "ones to avoid".
Les Bleus won 3-0 against Finland last night and secured their playoff spot behind Group I winners Spain.
However, France's ranking means Portugal, Croatia, Greece and Ukraine will be seeded instead of them, something the FFF have asked FIFA to look into, given that they were in the only group with five teams.
FIFA's latest set of rankings are due to come out soon, and Deschamps yesterday told L'Equipe: "They are the ones who will decide this.
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"I do not know if the decision has already been made or will be. It was our right to question what we felt was wrong.
"The points being discounted for games against the bottom team of the group is correct, but not those used for FIFA rankings.
"We are penalised on the notion of fairness, even though I do not want to influence anybody. But inevitably, we earned fewer points being in a group of five."
While Portugal and Ukraine will seem like the strongest opponents when the playoff draw takes place in Zurich next week Deschamps is not one to pick favourites.
"Everyone thinks Portugal [are the ones to avoid] because of Cristiano Ronaldo", Deschamps added. "He has such an influence on his team.
"But Greece, Croatia and Ukraine are more collective and are not easy to play. For now, I do not want to enter into an analysis of opponents."
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