What a difficult draw . . . for France. I don't think Ireland have anything to fear from their opponents in next month's play-off but the French should be nervous. They are far from the great side we remember from a decade ago. They're even a long way from the team that got to the final of the 2006 World Cup.

Yes, France have some talented individuals, but this is a team with a heart the size of a pea. Their coach, Raymond Domenech, has made plenty of questionable decisions and as a nation the French don't trust their players. There's tension between the fans and the team that could work to Ireland's advantage in the second leg if France are under pressure and start badly.

France had a relatively easy qualifying group, simpler than Ireland's, but couldn't finish above Serbia. They're the opposite of Ireland in many ways. Under Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland are passionate, organised, hard-working and have a real team ethic. All things that France have been accused of lacking.

Thierry Henry's still there and capable of producing magic but he's not the player he was three years ago and only rarely turns it on for his country. Take a look at their squad these days and there's not much for Ireland to be frightened of. Jean-Alain Boumsong at the back is no Marcel Desailly or Laurent Blanc, is he? France won't enjoy playing against us. Ireland are good at set-pieces and I think that's a potential weak spot for the French.

I'm not denying France are going to be tough opponents for us but Russia and Portugal would have been harder. My only serious disappointment is that Ireland are at home in the first leg, but a good result in that and Ireland can go to Paris feeling optimistic. The travelling Irish contingent will make loads of noise and the home crowd in the Stade de France will be anxious and potentially even hostile to their own players.

Ireland are set up first and foremost not to get beaten, which explains the number of draws in qualifying, but in Robbie Keane, Aiden McGeady, Kevin Doyle and Damien Duff, we have players with enough about them to nick the odd goal. The Doyle and Keane partnership is improving, Duff has been impressive and Richard Dunne has marshalled the back line brilliantly.The Hunt brothers will run all day, Sean St Ledger has come in and done OK and, in Shay Given, Ireland are lucky to have one of Europe's best goalkeepers. Victory won't be easy, but it's far from impossible.