Chelsea's Marcel Desailly has tipped Arsenal's Patrick Vieira to replace him as captain of the French national team when he retires from international football after the World Cup.

Vieira will play in his 35th successive game against Russia tonight, according to the Daily Star. This will equal the current record held by Manuel Amoros.

"In the next four years, he'll be this team's leader," Desailly says.

"He's going to pulverise all the records and that's all the better for France."