PARIS, Aug 3 - Brief news from France's Ligue 1
before the first round of matches of the 2007-08 season this
weekend.
* According to Ligue 1 coaches, only Olympique Lyon and
Olympique Marseille have a chance to win the title. When
L'Equipe asked all 20 for their tip, 12 said Lyon, two said
Marseille and six declined to make a prediction.
* Remy Vercoutre will be in the Olympique Lyon goal when
the six-times champions start their campaign by welcoming
Auxerre on Sunday. First choice Gregory Coupet, the France
keeper, tore a knee ligament in training on Thursday and will
be sidelined for four months.
* Sylvain Wiltord's Lyon future remains unclear after the
France forward missed this week's official pre-season photo
session. Wiltord had been talking to Stade Rennes but Lyon, who
have criticised him for poor discipline, said he would not go
there.
* Nice's locker rooms were hit by burglars during their
last training session for Saturday's match away to promoted
Caen. Mobile phones and wallets disappeared, as did forward
Lilian Laslandes' scooter.
* A suspension carried from last season means Girondins
Bordeaux playmaker Johan Micoud will miss his side's opener at
home to Racing Lens on Saturday. That fixture will be a special
occasion both for Lens coach Guy Roux and his Bordeaux
counterpart Laurent Blanc. The former France defender, making
his training debut, used to play for Auxerre when Roux was the
coach there.
* Each Ligue 1 club was visited by a referee this week and
told what the officials would be particularly watching out for
this season. Elbowing is top of the list.
* St Etienne officials said on Friday they were hoping to
sign former Italy defender Francesco Coco but had still not
reached a deal with his Inter Milan club.