Chinese defend Cisse challenge

Zheng Zhi has defended the challenge that ruled France's Djibril Cisse out of the World Cup.

The Liverpool forward broke his right leg in an innocuous challenge with the Shandong Luneng defender in Les Bleus' scrappy 3-1 win over the Asians on June 7.

But Zheng Zhi has defended himself after the tragedy, which occurred in France's last game before jetting off to Germany for the team's opening World Cup game.

"I was taking advantage of my position and engaged with him bodily, but I didn't expect Cisse to be injured after he fell to the ground," Zhi told Xinhua.

"Football matches are just like this. Every professional player could be injured on the pitch."

French coach Raymond Domenech has until June 12 to name a replacement in the squad, and Chinese coach Zhu Guanghu has extended his sympathies to the team.

"One of the Chinese team's purposes for this match was to help the French team warm up for a better performance in the World Cup, so our players played within the rules throughout the match," Guanghu commented.

Cisse will have to watch from the stands as France begin their quest to recapture the world crown against Switzerland in Group G on June 13.