© Reuters 2002

PUSAN, June 6 (Reuters) - France coach Roger Lemerre has not risked injured midfielder Zinedine Zidane for the group A match against Uruguay on Thursday and the playmaker, listed as not present on the team sheet, does not even make the bench.

But French coach Roger Lemerre has stuck to a sophisticated 4-2-3-1 formation despite the absence of Zidane, who is still recovering from a torn thigh muscle sustained during a warm-up match against co-hosts South Korea 10 days ago.

Suggestions that the world's most expensive player could return were wide of the mark and his role goes to Johan Micoud while midfielder Youri Djorkaeff, who filled in for Zidane in the shock 1-0 opening game defeat to Senegal, starts on the bench.

Lemerre is banking on the speed and skill of Sylvain Wiltord to bolster his midfield, while David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry are again given the responsibility of supplying the goals.

Lemerre has left his defence unchanged as he relies on the experience of Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf in the centre with Bixente Lizarazu and Lilian Thuram in the full-back roles. Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will earn his 50th cap for France.

Uruguay's playmaker Alvaro Recoba has been struggling with thigh and knee problems since their opening 2-1 loss to Denmark but coach Victor Pua has decided to play him against France. Pua has only made two changes with Alejandro Lembo replacing Gustavo Mendez in defence, while Marcelo Romero gets his chance in place of Gianni Guigou in midfield.