AS you alight from the train from Central Paris on to the long avenue that has been created to enhance the approach to Le Stade France, your eye can be distracted easily by the sight of a knackers yard just to your right as you survey the scene.

It is an unexpected eyesore, even though the thought of the appearance of a French Steptoe and Son during any of the games might alleviate the sheer drabness of much of the St Denis industrial area. Nevertheless, it is a strange sight seated amid the pointed titivation of the neighbourhood.

For a nation that fought tooth and nail to prevent a McDonald's siting itself on the Champs Elysees and provoked editorials about the defacing of a cultural heritage, it seems strange that, in trying to purvey a modern wholesome environment for the World Cup, that a decrepit oddity should have been allowed to survive the remedial blitz. You had to feel that somebody was making out of it.

That is until recently, when one began to appreciate its symbolic importance to the French and perhaps to all of us as a reminder of the possible fate that lies in wait for those who have chosen to aim for this highest of prizes.

Judging by what has been said in France this week about Aimee Jacquet's approach to the finals, that junkyard is appropriately placed and some of his detractors would, in fact, like to see him shoved in there, even at this very late stage of the preparations. Some of the pessimists feel it is only a matter of time.

The blitz on him started after a spectacular own goal this week. He held a press conference, which the main television station carried live. The nation held its breath as it awaited his announcement of the final 22 players for his squad. However, an event that was supposed to carry heavy significance and give the scribes something positive to write about turned out to be as meaningful as the Eurovision Song Contest. Indeed, Jacquet looked like the Norwegian contribution as he squirmed in front of the cameras with a banal performance and ultimately uttering the farcical announcement of 28 players not 22.

Now, outside of football circles, the difference between 22 and 28 does not seem all that much, but backed up by Jacquet's final quote: ''If we don't take risks, we will have a good World Cup,'' his performance was seen as riddled with self-doubt. The French media gutted him. L'Equipe, the daily sports paper, carried a mocking front page headline ''Are We Going to Field 13 Players?''

Jacquet has a reputation for indecision that would make Hamlet seem foolhardy. His ''To Be or Not To Be'' contribution seems to confirm French fears that they could be in for a shattering anti-climax. I suspect they carry the dubious distinction of being more fearful of failure than any of the other countries involved, even more so than the Brazilians.

When it was put to him that, by comparison, Zagallo, under enormous pressure, had made decisive announcements about the exclusions such as Rai and Juninho from his squad, Jacquet resorted to some impenetrable psychobabble that sounded like something out of Freud as interpreted by Eric Cantona.

That they have a relatively easy looking passage into the second round does not alter the fact that the French would regard failure to reach the semi-finals as unmitigated disaster. However, never before has the status of the host nation been so important to the general substance of the competition, because never before have the finals been so tailored to suit apparent domestic convenience. The disproportionate ticket distribution was the manifestation of that.

If a disaster befalls the French early in the tournament, then there will be a rapid decline in interest and available tickets will be like poppies spread.

The assumption that the French public will support the tournament for its own sake is a myth. Most foreigners I speak to in Paris would love to see the French fail spectacularly. Like me, they think it will allow more access to later games and, apart from that, they have been rather put off by the high-handed manner of some organisers.

Nevertheless, I doubt if the jitters being displayed this week in Paris amount to an acrid reflection of the ability of this French side.

They have enough talent in their squad to confound the sceptics, although you feel they will have to detach themselves from the shiftinesss of the manager and develop a sense of adventure in direct contrast to Jacquet's expressions of caution or there will be massive public disaffection.

That might apply to the reaction to the general standard of the tournament, because in creating this marathon by adding unnecessary bulk, FIFA might well have created its own junkyard.