Favourites France will virtually book their place in Portugal next year with a fifth consecutive Euro 2004 qualifying victory when they play Israel in Palermo on Wednesday.

The European champions are runaway leaders with a maximum 12 points but coach Jacques Santini is refusing to look beyond the clash in Sicily.

"If we win on Wednesday we will be on 15 points and very close to qualification," Santini said. "But mathematically even with a victory we won't be qualified."

"A success would put us in a very favourable situation. So we must keep our minds focused on this game."

France were in devastating form on Saturday as they thrashed Malta 6-0 in Lens, the same day that second-placed Israel were held to a 1-1 draw in Cyprus.

"That result was obviously good for us," said Santini. "You can only be happy when your rivals in the qualification race are losing points."

"But I'm expecting a much tougher challenge from Israel even though I don't want to play down the performance of the Maltese."

Striker Thierry Henry inspired the rout by scoring twice and setting up another for playmaker Zinedine Zidane, who was wearing the captain's armband.

"We are favourites in this group," Santini said. "But you never know what can happen during a match. At least I was happy with what the guys did on Saturday.

"They displayed great motivation and a great will. They didn't show any contempt for their opponents and I want to praise them for this. The public was happy with their performance too."

Wednesday's game, played on a neutral venue because of continued unrest in Israel, will be sparsely attended as few fans are expected to travel.

Security surrounding the match is high, with a police helicopter flying overhead constantly during the Israeli team's travel on local routes and during their training sessions at the city's Renzo Barbera stadium.

"It's going to be a match different from the others," defender Bixente Lizarazu said. "We are soccer players but we also are human beings like any others and we are sensitive to the international situation at the moment."

Santini had again left out regular captain Marcel Desailly and midfielder Emmanuel Petit, but he could recall Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira who was not risked against Malta.

Vieira, who had a painful knee, resumed training on Saturday and should partner Real Madrid's Claude Makelele in place of Sochaux's Benoit Pedretti.

"If Patrick (Vieira) is fit in time we will be more than happy to have him back in the team," Santini said.

The French coach is expected to rely on Henry and Juventus' David Trezeguet up front.

"I was a little bit worried because David missed two clear chances to score during the first half against Malta but eventually he found the net. It will ease off some psychological pressure," he said.

In the absence of Desailly, Manchester United's Mickael Silvestre is almost certain to start alongside William Gallas in central defence with AJ Auxerre's Philippe Mexes on the bench.

Israel have an injury worry over influential midfielder Yossi Benayoun of Racing Santander, who in the absence of Eyal Berkovic, is seen as vital to coach Avraham Grant's plans.

Benayoun, who came on as a substitute against Cyprus, injured his toe in the match and it was originally feared he would miss the French game. He trained on Monday, however, after intensive medical treatment.

"We are going to play against one of the best teams in the world, this will be a great challenge but we are prepared for it," said veteran midfielder Yossi Abuksis.

Probable teams:

France: Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, Wiliam Gallas, Mickael Silvestre, Bixente Lizarazu, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet.

Israel: Dudu Awat; Alon Harazi, Tal Ben-Haim, Arik Benado, Adoram Keisi, Tal Banin, Yossi Abuksis, Walid Badir, Idan Tal, Avi Nimni, Haim Revivo.

Referee: Graham Barber (England)