SOCCER ANALYST:Raymond Domenech survived the politics of the French federation for far too long
FRANCE AND the hosts are gone. And rightly so – the South Africans were below the required standard, while the famed French spirit crumbled.
This has been in the post since Raymond Domenech took over six years ago. Prior to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualification match against France in Paris in October 2004 an esteemed French football coach told me we had a genuine chance. Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Willy Sagnol had retired. My source told me the players had not warmed to the new coach.
The impression I got of Domenech was of an aloof, strange even, individual with questionable man-management skills. When I heard about his interest in solving selection quandaries with the use of astrology I wondered had I got it wrong with all those coaching courses. Jaysus, I never knew Duffer is Pisces! Robbie is Cancer and Kevin Doyle a Virgo. According to the stars I had my alignments all wrong!
Our paths have crossed at intervals since and on no occasion did he ever show the courtesy that is standard practice between national team coaches. France were staying in the same hotel as us in the Faroes Islands for the qualification game for the current World Cup but he seemed not to recognise me. There was an arrogance about him that I couldn’t help but dislike.
Before the crucial game of my tenure as Ireland manager in Dublin in September 2005 Domenech was under savage pressure as it looked like Switzerland, or us, might edge them for first place in the group. Somehow a stroke was pulled by a French government anxious to get Zidane, Thuram and Sagnol back for the Lansdowne Road match. They returned and the rest is history as Thierry Henry’s goal broke our hearts (Henry, of course, wasn’t finished there).
I found it bizarre to see their government involving themselves in football matters. I know what I would have said at such a suggestion from Bertie or one of his ministers! The French government were back involved this week. The cracks in their squad have been evident for much of Domenech’s time in charge even in their run to the 2006 World Cup final, when they were united by Zidane’s brilliance, but his survival after a very poor Euro 2008 amazed me. The decision to propose to his girlfriend Estelle at a post-match interview after an awful display that led to their elimination by Italy was in line with many of his strange ways. Yet, absurdly, his contract was renewed.
The Anelka affair was the final straw but the French federation must shoulder blame for announcing Laurent Blanc as Domenech’s successor before the tournament. The tension was at boiling point yet the situation where players are refusing to train (or play?) leaves a proud footballing nation in a state of depression. Domenech survived the politics of the French federation for far too long and the French team and public have suffered as a result.
I am watching this World Cup with my Faroe eyes. My professional interest is been intensified by the qualifiers for Euro 2012 with the progress of Italy, Serbia and Slovenia of particular interest to myself and fellow Group C opponents Northern Ireland.
I’m not saying we are licking are lips up in the Faroes but the Italians appears to be crumbling with a serious lack of pace up front, no invention in midfield and Cannavaro is way past his best in defence. The loss of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon appears detrimental to their World Cup aspirations. The madness in my head suggests Johan Davidsen and Atli Gregersen (recently signed for Ross County) can handle Gilardino and Iaquinta.That said, New Zealand are a much better outfit than us.
Serbia are also our future opponents and we are familiar with them from the previous campaign. I expect them to progress today with a win over Australia.
When I mentioned to friends previously Slovenia had qualified for this World Cup I sensed their reaction was surprise. They qualified at the expense of the Czech Republic, Poland and Northern Ireland, only conceding four goals in 10 games. Their dramatics in the qualifiers, when they overcame Guus Hiddink’s Russia were overshadowed by Henry’s hand ball against us in Paris and their opening 1-0 victory over Algeria went barely unnoticed and, really, they should already have qualified but for the Americans refusal to lie down in the 2-2 draw. They move to centre stage, however, today as victory, of which they are eminently capable, or even a draw, would send England home in disgrace.
Their neat passing makes them an efficient team. I like the look of Robert Koren (of West Brom), Andraz Kirm and Valter Birsa. Up front Milivoje Novakovi or Zlatan Ljubijanki are capable of taking advantage of the unfamiliarity between Matthew Upson and John Terry (presuming the former captain is selected). They must be taken seriously as they would be already in the knockout stages if not for the USA’s revival.
England have been in the last-chance saloon before. I can’t be convinced of them surviving given their form or Terry’s effort at solving the problems through the media – they have enough quality and reason to get their act together but don’t bet on it being easy. Unless they score early.
