Ribery doubtful for Ireland playoffs

Franck Ribery could miss France’s World Cup playoffs against Ireland next month because of an injury which has sidelined him for a month, France Football reported on their website Wednesday.

Ribery is suffering from tendonitis in his left knee which requires “a new period of rest of approximately one month,” the magazine reported.

The midfielder visited knee specialist Professor Jean-Henri Jaeger in Strasbourg on Tuesday, it added.

The Bayern Munich player’s preparations for this season have been hampered by the injury which he aggravated further against Juventus on September 30 in a Champions League group game.

Both France and Ireland finished second in their respective World Cup groups and were drawn first out of the hat in the draw for the two-leg playoffs that will be contested November 14 and 18.

Ireland host France at Croke Park in Dublin first before the return leg at the Stade de France four days later decides which of the two teams qualifies for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.