SOCCER WORLD CUP 2010 PLAY-OFFS:GENERALLY SPEAKING, he does not have a whole lot in common with Giovanni Trapattoni. When it came to naming his squad for the forthcoming World Cup play-offs between the Republic of Ireland and France, however, Raymond Domenech managed to be about as predictable as the veteran Italian with the only real talking point being his decision to omit a midfielder tirelessly talked up by others.
In the Italian’s case there were actually two, with both Steven and Andy Reid left out, while yesterday in Paris the primary focus of attention was Domenech’s decision to ignore Patrick Vieira’s less than compelling case for a recall while, perhaps more significantly, he decided that Samir Nasri will not be sufficiently recovered from his recent injury problems by Saturday or Wednesday week to merit some involvement against the Irish.
Vieira’s chances of inclusion would have been negligible given how little football he has been playing under Jose Mourinho had it not been for Zinedine Zidane loudly championing him in recent days.
In the end, Domenech took the precaution of stating it had “not been an easy decision” to pass over the 33 year-old as he named a squad very much in line with the one that he selected for the bulk of the group stage matches.
Nasri’s thrilling goal and strong performance for Arsenal against AZ Alkmaar looked more likely to make a positive impact on the manager but he has been rather peripheral over the course of the campaign with just two appearances and 91 minutes of football and so Domenech has not felt the need to hasten his international return.
There are two uncapped players in the squad for the two games, with Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carasso and Lyon left back Aly Cissokho amongst the 24 players named by Domenech.
The former will be the third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, neither of whom has much more than a year of international football under their belts, but after a dramatic rise from obscurity during the past couple of years the latter could feature in the French defence at some stage over the two games should anything happen Patrice Evra, given Gael Clichy is absent through injury.
Franck Ribery is, as expected, also missing but the Bayern Munich winger’s knee problems have not exactly left the French short-handed in attack. Thierry Henry will return to Dublin, where he scored the winner when the two sides met four years ago, along with, amongst others, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka and recent sensation Andre Pierre Gignac.
Accommodating so much striking talent has been the coach’s main problem over the course of the campaign to date and there has been a fair bit of rotation both in terms of those who make the starting line up and where they are deployed.
It is not entirely surprising then, that when Domenech, whose squad will only arrive in Dublin on the evening before the game at Croke Park, talked about the Irish the traits he seemed to most admire were their attitude and application rather than any great technical excellence, although he was suitably respectful at all times.
“As a nation we have some very technically gifted players,” he said “We also have a great deal of experience at this level and that can count for a lot. But it doesn’t guarantee that you win football matches. You must also have a desire and commitment for your country.
“Ireland have that in abundance,” he continued. “We know how strong they are mentally. They have a lot of players at a high level, with great experience and their supporters will provide a terrific atmosphere.
"They are a solid team who have been to the World Cup finals before. We know and appreciate their qualities. Now we have to counter them with qualities of our own. I've already asked the fans to stand up and be counted, now it's the turn of the players. If I listen to the La Marseillaisethen it stirs my emotions. I want the same feeling from my players in these games."
After a disappointing start, the French finished their campaign group strongly with eight goals in the closing two home matches, against the Faroe Islands and Austria, but, the manager insisted, the sudden flurry of goals would count for nothing in the play-offs.
“Those games are in the past and what we have to think about now is the present.”
Domenech revealed, meanwhile, that while in Milan this week for the Champions League game involving Real Madrid, he had asked Marcello Lippi for his opinion on Trapattoni’s tactics.
“I asked Lippi for some information but he didn’t dare give me any because he was scared Trapattoni (who was also sitting nearby in the stand) would hear him. But he’s a very experienced and clever manager and I respect him.”
