France coach says England like a Euro 2008 opponent

PARIS (Reuters) - France will take on England in a friendly next week as if they were one of their Euro 2008 finals opponents, coach Raymond Domenech said.

England, who failed to qualify for the tournament in Switzerland and Austria, play Les Bleus at the Stade de France on March 26.

"Against England, we will have to play as if we were in the Euro finals. What is important is what the players feel on the pitch," Domenech told French sports daily L'Equipe on Tuesday.

"They lost in Spain, it was a friendly game but I can tell you that got to them."

France got off to a bad start in 2008 with a 1-0 defeat to Spain.

The World Cup runners-up have been drawn with Romania, Netherlands and World champions Italy in Group C at the Euro 2008 finals starting in June.

(Writing by Bertrand Boucey, editing by Martin Petty)