The French football national team are preparing to play against Croatia in a friendly match. The friendly against Croatia is scheduled at the Stade de France on March 29, and the matches against Euro 2012 hosts Poland and Ukraine were scheduled for June.

France will take on Martin Skrtel's Ukraine away on June 6 before travelling on to face Poland on June 9.

After poor performances in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, France slipped down to its lowest ranking ever. The latest FIFA rankings came out Wednesday. New World Champion in South Africa last month, Spain (photo) remains in the lead. With 835 points, France now points to 27th place worldwide.

France were defeated by Belarus in Laurent Blanc's first match incharge of the national team. Blanc welcomed back nine players from Les Bleus' disastrous World Cup campaign after he had suspended them for a friendly in Norway last month.

But they could do nothing to prevent Belarus sub Sergei Kislyak from netting the winner with four minutes left.

His goal came from the visitors' only clear-cut chance in the Euro 2012 qualifier at Stade de France.

French Goverment has denied any interference into the running of its Football Association after being warned by FIFA. FIFA criticised the government after it summoned manager Raymond Domenech and the French federation's former president to a hearing on Wednesday.

"There was never any question of the French government interfering in the affairs of the French Football Federation," said spokesman Luc Chatel.

Raymond Domenech is keeping the 23 players who are training at the French Alpine resort of Tignes as France's World Cup squad.

Domenech said on the French federation website Monday night that he will not make any changes to his current squad.

There was speculation Domenech could call up another midfielder after losing Lassana Diarra to a genetic red blood cell disorder, but Domenech decided against any more call-ups.

Punters betting with Bodog could see otherwise losing bets on French draws pay out, even if Les Bleus win, should Henry score the winning goal.

He is also being excluded from the top goalscorer charts - unless he is specified in the bet itself, in which case the bookie is still planning to take the wager.

Bodog Europe's MD Keith McDonnell says he has introduced the plan so Henry - whose handball in the build-up to France's winning goal in Paris last year saw the Irish knocked out in a World Cup qualifying playoff - 'can do no more damage' to his enjoyment of the tournament.