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Makelele confident of French strike force

Claude Makelele is confident that the French strikers can hit form at the right time
Claude Makelele is confident that the French strikers can hit form at the right time

France midfielder Claude Makelele is confident the team's misfiring strikers will rediscover their shooting boots by the time Euro 2008 kicks off.

None of Les Bleus' three chief forwards - Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema - scored in the three warm-up games ahead of the Euros, against Ecuador, Paraguay and Colombia.

Of the three goals France netted in those matches, one was a penalty by Franck Ribery while fourth-choice striker Bafetimbi Gomis scored the other two.

A host of chances were squandered by the squad's main frontmen but Makelele is not concerned ahead of France's Group C opener against Romania on Monday.

'The lack of opportunism we showed doesn't not worry me,' said the Chelsea anchorman.

'We are capable of scoring at any moment with the attackers we have got. And we have the substitutes who can make the difference.

'We have always been patient. What we must do, above all, is to keep our own qualities, those which we deployed in qualifying - a defensive block which allows the team to throw themselves forward in search of goals.'

France's preparations for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland have been hampered by injury worries to three of their key players.

Patrick Vieira will miss the Romania match with a thigh tear that is threatening to rule him out of the competition. The Internazionale star will announce on Sunday whether he is to stay in the squad or be replaced by Mathieu Flamini.

Ribery and Henry have been troubled by minor knocks they picked up against Colombia which have cut short their participation in training sessions at the squad's base in Chatel-St-Denis.

Ribery and Vieira took part in normal training on Friday, while Henry followed a specific regime set by team physio Robert Duverne.

Ribery and Henry are expected to be fit for Monday.

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