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Henry faces fitness fight

Henry in training on Tuesday, before injury worries returned

IBUSUKI, Japan -- French striker Thierry Henry has been given until Sunday to prove his fitness, or risk missing the World Cup.

The 24-year-old is still suffering from the effects of an injury to his right knee and is not training, coach Roger Lemerre said on Wednesday.

"We feel that Thierry is not capable of resuming training at the moment," added Lemerre. "We are a little bit doubtful about his fitness.

"We will test him on Sunday as there has to be a deadline to know where we are at. It is imperative that we make the right decision with a view to how he will bear up as the finals progress. If we don't get a good result on Sunday... I will have to think of other options."

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Losing Henry, France's top scorer with three goals in the victorious World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000 campaigns, would be a major blow to the champions. His Arsenal teammate Robert Pires is already out of the finals after injuring his knee in March.

Henry had been due to play in a training match against Japanese league side Urawa Reds on Wednesday, which France won 5-1, but took no part.

Last month Henry, who played 48 games for Arsenal last season, told CNN European-based stars were asked to play too much football.

He has complained of pain in his knee since joining the squad last week after helping Arsenal to an English Premiership and FA Cup double, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile France, who kick off the finals against Senegal on May 31, have welcomed key midfielder Zinedine Zidane to the squad.

As his teammates flew to Japan, he stayed at home in Marseille to be with his wife Veronique at the birth of their third son, Theo, on Saturday.

"He has arrived with a great smile on his face," said Lemerre. "It's comforting to have him with us. Now we are all together and we feel much stronger."