France sit on top of Group B after the 0-0 draw against World Cup winners Italy at the San Siro yesterday with Scotland having leapfrogged the Azzurri into second after a 3-1 triumph over Lithuania in Glasgow.

Domenech believes the Scotland game will be key to France's bid to reach next summer's tournament in Switzerland and Austria.

And the coach believes that if the Parc pitch is churned up by rugby players ahead of Wednesday's games it will affect his side.

Domenech told a press conference at Clairefontaine: "Scotland is a great football nation but I am worried about the pitch on Wednesday.

"There is a rugby game between South Africa and Samoa - both sides have big packs - three days before.

"The pitch will be damaged. I can not understand. I love rugby but we need good conditions to play."

The man who led France to last year's World Cup final claimed the pitch would suit Scotland as Les Bleus would have to readjust their tactics.

"We will have to play an aerial game and that's good for the Scots," he said.

Domenech is aware of the importance of the game against Alex McLeish's men, who defeated France 1-0 at Hampden Park earlier in the qualification phase.

The coach said: "I was saying last week that the most important game is Scotland.

"If we do not beat the Scots our draw in Italy means nothing. Scotland is more important than Italy because Scotland won at home. We have to get the right balance and for that even a draw on Wednesday will not be good for us."

Domenech admitted that he would start worrying about qualification if Wednesday's game went against his side.

He said: "I feel that the Scotland game will make the difference. We will be either calm or worried after the game."

The coach played down any suggestion that Les Bleus would be favourites at the Parc.

"France are not favourites," said Domenech. "Italy have 17 points, Scotland 18 and nothing is achieved yet but we know that two good teams will be eliminated."

France will not be able to count on the suspended Thierry Henry and there are doubts over the fitness of Arsenal captain William Gallas, who missed the Italy game and is struggling to be ready for Wednesday.