Lemerre favours Anelka-Henry pairing

A more mature Anelka appears has convinced Lemerre

Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry are expected to spearhead France's attack in the world champions' opening Euro 2000 game against Denmark on Sunday.

Although France coach Roger Lemerre is giving little away, the latest whispers from the team's Euro 2000 base at Genval suggest Anelka and Henry are now favourites to start over Monaco striker David Trezeguet and Bordeaux's Sylvain Wiltord.

Arsenal striker Henry and Real Madrid's Anelka, who are friends off the pitch, both scored in Tuesday's 5-1 romp over hosts Morocco in the final of the King Hassan II Tournament.

Lemerre, who was former coach Aime Jacquet's assistant during the successful World Cup campaign, dropped a hint to his starting line-up when he said: "I recognise the way the attack has matured."

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That would appear to be a reference to Anelka, who has shown signs of mellowing after well publicised rows with Real Madrid and former employers Arsenal, and Henry, who is a lot happier at Arsenal after frequently complaining about his lot at Juventus.

Apart from the front pairing the team will have much in common with the team that beat Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup Final two years ago.

Fabien Barthez will be in goal while Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu will be joined in the back four by Laurent Blanc, who missed the final through suspension and was replaced by Frank Leboeuf.

It's a privilege to have so many players at your disposal with so much talent

Roger Lemerre

And in midfield will be Emmanuel Petit, Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff, who has shrugged off an injury.

Henry was France's top scorer in France 98 with three goals but did not play in the final, and Anelka was one of six players omitted by Jacquet when he trimmed his squad down from 28 to 22.

As well as Anelka, Henry, Trezeguet and Wiltord, Lemerre has options that could seem him play Wiltord or even Christophe Dugarry or Robert Pires in a supporting role behind a single striker with Zidane and Djorkaeff also frequent scorers from midfield.