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Domenech knows what to expect from "England B" side.
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20-10-2009 9:39am#1http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1020/1224257057245.htmlGIVEN THAT his diplomatic efforts in the past have prompted some the country’s leading players to hang up their boots early – and there appears always to be at least one feud with a major star in progress – it should not come as any great surprise that France manager Raymond Domenech yesterday described Ireland as the “England B team” after hearing who he and his side must overcome if they are to make it to another World Cup finals tournament.
Speaking on RTL radio, in no small part because his relationship with large sections of the rest of the French media is so difficult these days, the 52-year-old went on to welcome the outcome of the draw, insisting the knowledge he and his players possess of next month’s opponents would more than compensate for having to face the second-highest-ranked of the non-seeded sides. “We know what we have to do and that is the important thing,” said the former Lyon, PSG and Bordeaux player, who was also in charge when France came to Dublin four years ago and won thanks to second-half strike by Thierry Henry.
“Whatever the opposition I would be saying the same thing: that our only objective is to qualify. As it is, it is the Republic of Ireland and so now we must do it by beating them.
“But the best thing is that we know all their players because they play in the Premier League. Some of my players know them very well. There won’t be any surprises. We know precisely what to expect.”
Domenech acknowledged that Ireland have emerged unbeaten from a group that included the world champions, but he did not sound overawed by the achievement.
“They are very solid, very physical, but we also have these qualities. They are the England Bs.”
The remark might come back to haunt him.
But it is hard to imagine he would have any future in the job anyway should his side lose to Ireland over two legs and fail to qualify for next summer’s tournament finals in South Africa.
His grip on the manager’s job looked just as precarious when he brought the French to Lansdowne Road in September 2005, however, with the qualification group still extremely tight ahead of the game against Ireland.
The three points secured by the French that night provided the impetus for qualification, and while a great many of the country’s football media then presumed that a poor showing in Germany would force his departure, the team, driven on by a resurgent Zinedine Zidane, went all the way to the final in Berlin where they came within a whisker of regaining the title by beating Italy.
Since then there has been the rather dismal failure of the European Championships. The team qualified despite losing at home to both Ukraine and, more ominously, Scotland, but it was in Switzerland that things really came off the rails.
A goalless draw with Romania was followed by tame defeats by Italy and the Netherlands.
For many, Domenech had played a key part in the team’s failure with questionable selections and his poor relationship with key members of the squad seen as having undermined the chances of a group that was already in decline.
For a while his future hung in the balance. In the end, however, the federation opted to stick with him for another campaign.
His employers are unlikely to worry too much about who they might turn to in the event that Ireland come out on top next month, but Domenech, they know, has surprised his critics before and few in France would bet heavily against him doing it again.
If this was a hollywood film, the plot would be nicely set up. We have our Villain, and we have our heros....However....it's not hollywood
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Running scared already!
Benzema: Republic a rock-hard draw
Karim Benzema has admitted France have got the "worst possible draw" after being paired with Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-offs.
Les Bleus will take on the Irish in November with the two teams battling it out over two legs for a place in South Africa, after the sides were drawn out of the hat to face each other on Monday.
With France seeded for the draw, they could have been pitted against either Ukraine, Slovenia or Bosnia-Herzegovina, but they were handed a tie against the highest-ranked second seeds.
Real Madrid forward Benzema, who has 27 caps for France, is relishing the test that the Republic will bring, and is desperate for his team to reach the tournament next year.
"It is a very difficult draw, two big games await us for a place in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa," he said.
"In Croke Park, Ireland will count on their fantastic fans to try and have the advantage but we will be ready - we all want to be part of the biggest football event of the world."
They're worried. On paper perhaps they shouldn't be but they are...
Contrary to popular opinion, I think having the first leg here is an advantage.
I've not missed a home game in 15 years, and we play at home on a Saturday, the crowd - in this case 80,000 or so people going to Croker - will have a few beers in them before kick-off. They'll be wild. No question. A Saturday crowd starting at 0-0 with everything to play for will be 10 times louder than a Wednesday crowd maybe a goal or two behind from the 1st leg.
The French have a history of choking under pressure. So the longer we stay in the tie, the more chance we have. It's better to take something into the 2nd game rather than maybe be chasing a game.
Scotland beat them home AND away recently, so maybe Domenech struggles to set his team up against sides like us...
We should have Finnan and O'Shea at full back for this so we're not too badly off. And if Steven Reid can get some match fitness in the next month, we won't be looking too bad going into this at all...0 -
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Running scared already!
Benzema: Republic a rock-hard draw
Karim Benzema has admitted France have got the "worst possible draw" after being paired with Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-offs.
Les Bleus will take on the Irish in November with the two teams battling it out over two legs for a place in South Africa, after the sides were drawn out of the hat to face each other on Monday.
With France seeded for the draw, they could have been pitted against either Ukraine, Slovenia or Bosnia-Herzegovina, but they were handed a tie against the highest-ranked second seeds.
Real Madrid forward Benzema, who has 27 caps for France, is relishing the test that the Republic will bring, and is desperate for his team to reach the tournament next year.
"It is a very difficult draw, two big games await us for a place in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa," he said.
"In Croke Park, Ireland will count on their fantastic fans to try and have the advantage but we will be ready - we all want to be part of the biggest football event of the world."
They're worried. On paper perhaps they shouldn't be but they are...
Contrary to popular opinion, I think having the first leg here is an advantage.
I've not missed a home game in 15 years, and we play at home on a Saturday, the crowd - in this case 80,000 or so people going to Croker - will have a few beers in them before kick-off. They'll be wild. No question. A Saturday crowd starting at 0-0 with everything to play for will be 10 times louder than a Wednesday crowd maybe a goal or two behind from the 1st leg.
The French have a history of choking under pressure. So the longer we stay in the tie, the more chance we have. It's better to take something into the 2nd game rather than maybe be chasing a game.
Scotland beat them home AND away recently, so maybe Domenech struggles to set his team up against sides like us...
We should have Finnan and O'Shea at full back for this so we're not too badly off. And if Steven Reid can get some match fitness in the next month, we won't be looking too bad going into this at all...
Bit of class from Benzema in fairness.
Maybe Domenech could learn a thing or two from him...0 -
Absolutely, when you look at their results in the WC qualifiers, and look at how appallingly badly they performed at the 2008 euro finals, it seems that France are just not up to this, despite their undoubted superiority on a player by player basis. Ireland should have been the seeded team
I roared with delight watching the play off draw (bit of craic seeing as I was surrounded by Frenchies in my hostel watching it ). Was glad to have avoided Russia mainly. France are my lowest rated team from the pot 1. Look at the facts:
This world class team beat the Faroe Islands a whopping 1-0 away recently.
The younger players are devoid of drive and heart because of Domenech. Benzema was quoted as saying he didnt feel like playing in the Serbia game. The fact he chose France when Algeria (or another North Africa team?) were granny rule chasing him shows that he once did have the heart for it. Why is it gone? Domenech, clearly. The same type of boredom, going through the motions rot players suffered under Stan, McClaren, Maradona etc etc.
Thierry Henry felt the need to publicly say that there were essentially no tactics, no gameplan, just get out and do something was the height of the preparation. I seem to remember Carsley saying the same thing in Stans era (though he did claim he was misquoted)
France came second in a group Serbia won. Serbia IIRC arent even doing particularly well.
Essentially France have been poor under Domenechs entire reign. IIRC they started poorly in 2006 WC, Zidane inspired them to that final. I really cant imagine there is a great will among the players to slug their way to eventual defeat in another tournament. They want rid of Domenech.0 -
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