FRENCH coach Raymond Domenech paid tribute to Wanderers star Nicolas Anelka after the striker's goal secured a vital win over Lithuania.

Anelka, who only recently returned to international football after a three-year absence, kept the French level with Scotland at the top of Group B.

Domenech said: "That's the Nicolas I love. When he plays like that he is a contender for a permanent place in this team."

France's only loss in five games came against the Scots last October and Domenech said: "We must win everything now as there are two places for four challengers."

Anelka quit the national side after snubbing a late call-up from former coach Jacques Santini.

But in October he scored in France's 5-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

French defender Willy Sagnol said: "Anelka was very good because for 70 minutes he played alone up front."

French midfielder Claude Makele insists there is no room for error in the coming games. He said: "The important thing is to win at home and to take some points away.

"We dropped points in Glasgow and Scotland put themselves in control."

Next up for the French are clashes against Ukraine on June 2 and Georgia on June 6.

Domenech is already worried his team may lack sharpness because the domestic season will have ended by then.

He added: "It's a real problem. I did not want matches in June."

France will face Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in a friendly on Wednesday but Lyon stars Florent Malouda, Sidney Govou and Eric Abidal could be rested while Thierry Henry is still injured.