This World Cup is about atonement for France, the 1998 champion and 2002 flop. Midfielder Zinedine Zidane wants to make his final moments on the international stage ones to remember. Switzerland is a familiar foe for the French and not to be taken lightly. Without the home-field advantage, can South Korea make an impact? Togo is likely to go 0 for Germany.

FRANCE
Zidane bids goodbye to the Stade de France and plays his 100th international match for Les Bleus today when France plays Mexico in a friendly match. The pressure is squarely on coach Raymond Domenech to produce a cohesive lineup and a winning formation, and one that will score goals. The memory of the team's goalless performance in the 2002 World Cup still stings. Domenech might use Zidane just behind forwards Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, with a three-man midfield and four backs. William Gallas and Lilian Thuram are expected to be partners in the middle of the French defense.
FIFA world ranking: No. 8.
Player to watch:
Thierry Henry, forward. The Arsenal star rivals Ronaldinho as a gifted player in a special class. Henry recently signed to stay with the English Premier League club, despite rumors he would make a switch to Barcelona, the team that beat Arsenal, 2-1, in the Champions League final. A star at Monaco in his younger days, the 28-year-old striker wants to show that France's poor World Cup performance in 2002 was an aberration. He burst onto the international scene in the 1998 World Cup, when he led his country with three goals as it hoisted the trophy on home soil.

SWITZERLAND
The Swiss finished second in their European qualifying group and impressively defeated Turkey in a two-leg playoff, by virtue of away goals on a 4-4 aggregate score. Kobi Kuhn, the team's 63-year-old coach and former Swiss international, has built a reputation directing the country's youth teams. Switzerland will be eager to prove itself after missing the last two World Cups. Its last appearance came in 1994 in the United States., when it reached the second round. The Swiss often have troubled the French. They played in the same World Cup qualifying group, with both matches ending in draws.
FIFA world ranking: No. 35.
Player to watch:
Alexander Frei, forward. The 26-year-old native of Basel has speed and grit and could hold the key to the team's hopes of reaching the second round. He is making a comeback from a groin injury that has slowed him since February, and his contributions will be even more important with the loss of fellow striker Johan Vonlanthen, expected to miss the tournament with a hamstring injury.

SOUTH KOREA
The Koreans are trying their luck with another Dutch coach, after they reached the Cup semifinals on home turf in 2002 under Guus Hiddink. After firing two coaches because of disappointing qualifying results, former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat took over in October 2005. Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung will be counted on to ignite the offense and propel the team into the second round.
FIFA world ranking: No. 29.
Player to watch:
Park Ji-Sung, midfielder. He has a motor that won't quit, and his tireless work rate will be counted on again by South Korea. Since the 2002 World Cup, he has experienced more success at the club level, first with PSV Eindhoven and now at Manchester United. He played under Hiddink again at PSV and scored an important goal in a 2005 Champions League semifinal against AC Milan. The 25-year-old has scored three goals in 45 appearances with United.

TOGO
Perhaps no team is in greater disarray entering the World Cup. Otto Pfister was named to replace Stephen Keshi as coach after Togo went winless in the African Nations Cup earlier this year. The team's star player, 22-year-old Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor, had a nasty dispute with Keshi and refused to play in a match in the Nations Cup. Adebayor's spot in the team ultimately was not threatened, however, after he led all African scorers in qualifying with 11 goals. Togo qualified for its first World Cup in large part thanks to a victory and a draw against 2002 World Cup quarterfinalist Senegal, which must sit out this time.
FIFA world ranking: No. 61.
Player to watch:
Jean-Paul Abalo, defender. Togo's 30-year-old captain is well-respected and will be counted on to help his team keep its composure in its first World Cup encounters. He played 10 years for French club Amiens before being released, leaving him with no choice but to play last season in the amateur ranks. He joined Dunkirk, a team based in northern France, before signing with a team in Cyprus in March.

GROUP SCHEDULE
June 13 - France vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m. (Milwaukee time) at Stuttgart; South Korea vs. Togo, 8 a.m. at Frankfurt.

June 18 - France vs. South Korea, 2 p.m. at Leipzig.

June 19 - Togo vs. Switzerland, 8 a.m. at Dortmund.

June 23 - Togo vs. France, 2 p.m. at Cologne; Switzerland vs. South Korea, 2 p.m. at Hanover.