Vidic: Draw against France would be enough

Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic says a draw against beleaguered France in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday would be as good as a victory.

The Serbs will reach next year’s World Cup if they win on Wednesday, while France is clinging to its fading hopes of direct qualification from Group 7 after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Romania at Stade de France on Saturday.

“We have to keep our heads cool and be aware that a point against France is as good as a win,” Vidic of Manchester United said Monday.

Serbia leads the group with 18 points from seven matches, with France trailing four points behind. A French win in Belgrade would leave Raymond Domenech’s side one point behind Serbia with two games to play.

A draw on Wednesday would mean that Serbia needed to win only one of its two remaining group matches – against Romania at home or Lithuania away – and still clinch a direct World Cup spot, no matter what France did against the Faeroe Islands and Austria at home.

“We must not rush toward the French goal,” Vidic said. “We have to be disciplined and organized because their players are great individuals who can easily solve one-on-one situations.”

Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic agreed with Vidic, although he said that “it would be a pity to waste this match point against France.”

Stankovic said he spoke to his Inter Milan teammate Christian Chivu, who led Romania’s defense on Saturday against France and who gave him some advice.

“Christian said that the French midfield and defense are very strong and that we should keep our defense tight without giving them much space,” Stankovic said.