Domenech could get 'help' with team
French football authorities are considering employing someone to work alongside Raymond Domenech at the helm of Les Bleus.
Domenech has come under fire in France despite qualifying for next summer’s World Cup.
A controversial victory over the Republic of Ireland in last month’s play-off hardly helped his cause but the France Football Federation (FFF) confirmed last week that there was no question of a change of coach.
However, a meeting was held last Thursday by Club France – an organisation created as an advisory board by the FFF and consisting of some of the most influential men in football in France – where it was decided to put forward the idea of bringing in a general manager and a director of sport.
“Six months away from the World Cup it would not be reasonable to separate ourselves from our coach,” said Jean-Pierre Louvel, president of the union of professional football clubs.
“So we didn’t have the desire to vote anyone out or impose a diktat. But we couldn’t just stand around doing nothing.
“We have to consider all the solutions so that the France team stirs up passion once again. Not to do anything would be a lacking of our responsibilities.”
Reports suggest Club France will propose installing Gervais Martel as general manager and Gerard Houllier as director of sport when the FFF meet on January 29.
Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane, who won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 1998, has joined the growing list of critics of the France team.
Zidane admits he is baffled by France being so mediocre considering the wealth of talent at their disposal.
“This team is definitely open to criticism, although I prefer to look at the positives,” Zidane said in an interview with France Football. “It’s hard to see them playing like this while there are good players.
“It’s not nice to see them go out there with a lot of difficulty each time. Their qualifying group was well within their range, as well as the playoffs, but well...
“Considering the value of certain France players, I am just disappointed to see them play like this.”
