Domenech calls for unity
France coach Raymond Domenech has called on his players to pull together after Lassana Diarra was ruled out of the World Cup with a stomach complaint.
The 26-year-old Diarra felt pain during altitude training and tests have revealed an illness which will sideline him indefinitely and force him to miss the trip to South Africa.
“What has happened to Lassana is very sad,” Domenech said on TF1. “To lose someone like this is very hard. Everyone felt it very strongly. It’s hard, but it also means more responsibility for those who are left.”
Domenech has still not decided whether to call in a replacement for Diarra, even while he is dealing with other injury concerns, not least in regard to William Gallas.
“There is always the uncertainty with Gallas,” he admitted. “We can be optimistic from what we have seen in training, but that is not the same as in a game.
“We do not know if he will be okay for Costa Rica (on Wednesday). It does not hurt now, but we must be careful with the calf. We want it to be ready for the World Cup.”
