No place for Henry in starting lineup?

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 31, 2010

[FRANCE] With Lassana Diarra out of the World Cup, French coach Raymond Domenech has adopted a new 4-3-3 formation for the 2006 World Cup runner-up. The same 10 field players who started earlier in the week against Costa Rica started in Sunday's 1-1 tie at Tunisia, which meant there was no place for star Thierry Henry.

“I had a chat with the coach and the coach told me I wasn’t starting,” Henry said. “But as I’ve said many times, the most important thing is the team. I try and bring something when I come on, I’m at the team’s disposition.”

Henry came on in the second half for Franck Ribery.

William Gallas, whose controversial goal sent France to the World Cup, scored to salvage the barnstorming Bleus a tie.

They are now off the French island of Reunion for their final preparations for the World Cup. France plays China Friday in its final tuneup.

May 30 in Rades
Tunisia 1 France 1. Goals: Jomaa 5; Gallas 62.
France -- Lloris, Sagna, Gallas (Squillaci, 64), Abidal (Planus, 46), Evra (Clichy, 64), Gourcuff (Diaby, 64), Toulalan, Malouda, Govou (Cisse, 75), Anelka (Gignac, 64), Ribery (Henry, 46).