Ribery and Escude in doubt for Serbia clash

France’s desperate fight to finish top of their 2010 World Cup qualifying group suffered a further blow on Sunday as it was revealed that playmaker Franck Ribery and defender Julien Escude were slightly injured.

The duo came out of the disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Romania – in which Escude’s scored an own goal – both suffering from knocks according to embattled national coach Raymond Domenech.

Domenech, who was jeered at the start of the match in contrast to the team who were cheered, takes his side to a potentially decisive clash with group leaders Serbia on Wednesday where France could be consigned to fighting it out in a play-off to make the finals next year.

“We don’t know whether they will be able to play on Wednesday,” admitted Domenech.

“We shall see, we generally wait a day after a match (Monday in this case) to take an overall analysis.”

Ribery, who it is believed has a calf injury, has had an injury-plagued close season and has barely played for Bayern Munich thus far this campaign – he came on in the 57th minute against Romania without making much of an impression.

Serbia lead France by four points in Group Seven with just three matches remaining so victory on Wednesday for the hosts would leave Domenech and the French scrambling to make the finals in South Africa next year.