24.01.2010
Vieira rates World Cup chances as 100 percent
New Manchester City recruit Patrick Vieira says he has a "100 percent chance" of playing for France at next summer's World Cup finals, despite having not represented his country since June 2009.
"As I'm an optimist, I'm going to say 100 percent," he said in response to a question about his chances of playing in South Africa on the Canal Football Club television show on Sunday evening.
"The desire is there, it's my goal. In my head, I don't see myself missing the World Cup."
Vieira, who has yet to play for his new club, admitted that he had received "no guarantees" from France coach Raymond Domenech, who he met shortly before Christmas, and conceded that the situation "is not as simple as that".
"But he said that as soon as I'm playing, there's no reason why I shouldn't be selected," said Vieira, whose last France appearance saw him captain Les Bleus to a 1-0 defeat against Nigeria in Saint-Etienne last June.
"You have to play, which is the important thing for me. I have five months."
Vieira, 33, was a member of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship and has 107 caps.
He joined City from reigning Italian champions Inter Milan on January 8.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Andrew Yates
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