Henry set to miss opening game

13 April 2012

Thierry Henry is in danger of missing the start of France's defence of the World Cup because of a knee injury.

The Arsenal striker was unable to play in today's 5-1 win over Japanese club side Urawa Reds because of a troublesome problem to his right knee.

French manager Roger Lemerre admitted after the game, in monsoon conditions at Ibuzuki, that Henry is a serious doubt for Sunday's friendly against South Korea in Seoul.

France play Senegal in the opening game in nine days and Lemerre said: "I have a real doubt about him. I wanted him to play today but he was unable to train in our session yesterday afternoon. In the morning I thought he would be able to manage 30 minutes but it was just not possible.

"He's still not ready to play and I don't know what to do. I don't know yet if Thierry will play against South Korea.

Maybe he should so we would know one way or the other about the injury but I have to take a logical decision and I will do that in the next few days."

Henry was one of five players who were unable to play today. Lemerre had planned to play three-thirds of 30 minutes each but decided against that strategy because of the number of players who were missing and the horrendous weather. As well as Henry, France were without Alain Boghossian, Lilian Thuram, Zinedine Zidane and, most crucially, David Trezeguet.

The Juventus striker is also suffering from knee trouble and, with Henry, forms one half of the strike force that Lemerre wants to use during the World Cup. "If I lost him as well as Thierry it would be a huge problem," said Lemerre.

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