Comments on: Raymond Domenech Opens His Mouth. (And You Know a Good Story is Going to Follow)

By: Raymond Domenech Turns Down Whiskey for the Good of the Team - Europe - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:00:13 +0000

[...] say/do/act like that!” And yet he does. And he usually gets away with it. Whether he’s accusing Italy of cheating in the 2000 U-21 Olympic qualifiers, or playing injured players despite pleas from their club [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:10:16 +0000

Funny part is how everyone trashes Italien Football when they’re the only ones to take action agaist the cheating and violence. While it happens everywhere most Football Organizations are happy just ignoring or covering up the problems.

By: France too strong

France too strong — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:54:15 +0000

France is going to beat Italy again.France will win 3-0 on september 8.

By: alex

alex — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:24:35 +0000

Francois, bravo! Absolutely. Tu comprends tres bien.

On the other hand, people like Richard come up with the most useless and baseless of facts. So we’ll forget non-fans such as him. Sandrahn -I’m a soccer historian – produce me this “historical” proof. Sounds to me you’re simply playing off your prejudices. You opened a can of worms that you can’t possibly defend.

Italy built one of the best soccer leagues (and national sides) in the world and there is a reason for it. You can dismiss it all you want but that’s a fact. They did not build it on “cheating.” That is the most retarded and unsubstantiated thing anyone can say.

Besides, who is doing all the whining now? England does a pretty damn good job of it too. Two can play this game, Sandrahn.

I can produce to you countless stories of nations “whining” including France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany (to name a few) throughout the history of the beautiful game. Hey, looka here: NOT ALL INVOLVE ITALY!! So spare me the nonsense.

I’ve really lost my patience with such people since WC ‘06. Those who speak in this manner are not true soccer fans.

It has always baffled me, in 10 years of reading threads how people do not fear to spew their anti-Italian venom (only English fans have had to put up with it as much. Two of the world’s most passionate soccer nations by the way) Never. It’s the oddest thing in which I can only conclude -as Francois has -that it is personally driven by prejudice – and possibly jealousy.

My cousin played in France – second division. So, I’ve followed French football even before French fans ever did. I’ve been a fan of the country and its soccer since the days of Rocheteau, Battiston and of course Platini. Let me just say that France is not without its corruption problems.

In 1993, Olympique Marseille “cheated.” Do you hear soccer fans – or Italians for that matter who lost to OM – consistently denigrate a culture by calling them cheaters? It’s not right. It just isn’t.

People are confusing what happened in Italy with somehow a systemic corruption issue. WE’RE BEGINNING TO SEE THIS IN ALL SPORTS IN ALL NATIONALITIES. Sometimes I wonder if any of you read or if you do that you are being deliberately selective. Belgium, Spain, Germany, Holland, France and now England all have serious corruption problems. The case is far more complex yet pretty straightforward.

Nevertheless, none back up what Domenech said. The guy was complaining about something that happened in 2000! Think about that. And he further thinks that Italy cheated – how by bribing a UEFA ref? Man, this is too rich even for me.

There is nothing one can say to defend his lame comments. NONE.

There is a great match about to be played it is sullied by all this. Too bad.

By: Francois

Francois — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:25:08 +0000

The petition thing was a joke. Don’t misunderstand me I don’t hate the guy but I think he has no political sense in this particular matter. He is putting unnecessary strain on our players. This is definitely going to affect their game and let’s not forget we’re going to be on their soil. An accusation such as this should only be made if there is evidence to support such a charge or else it could be construed as slander. I don’t think the FIGC will react to this as this is the view of one man not the entire FFF.

About the word “race”. In North America this term is used quite loosely. I should have actually used the word “nationality” after all you’re right there is only one race, the human “race” We all originate from the same descent. Only language separates us. If a North American uses the word it is not meant to offend it’s more of culural thing.

By: Seb

Seb — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:04:09 +0000

Somewhat odd to see a Thierry defending Dumbenech. After all, the Barca striker would be among the last to compliment him.

Though to be a bit argumentative, I think Didi is a superior option as sélectionneur. After all, this season World Cup winners can coach. Has anyone else noticed how well Laurent Blanc is doing at Bordeaux?

By: Thierry

Thierry — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:00:00 +0000

“you people will have enough class not to attack our opponents verbally. Instead, why don’t you set an example for some of the young people (could be one of yours kids) that might be reading these posts.”
Sure “this attitude everybody has about laying blame and pointing fingers and this sick desire to be better than your neighbor.” is a problem. Funny to see you were ready to make a petition against Domenech to fire him, and you have the same attitude than him toward someone you don’t know, on the only biased intuition of what he could be.;)
Sure you ‘re right, nationalism is a problem in sports. But Domenech don’t have biased or racist purpose he just told the bad experience he have with referee calls in italian soil. Of course, his objective is to focalize the attention on the referee in order to have a clean match, and we all want a clean match, aren’t we? But the fact, he several times by the past already spoken about this match shown it was like a traumatism for him, and i think, as stupid that he could appear to you that he is sincere. Moreover i don’t think that this “psychological war” or “influence war” from Domenech is not very different than the one the italian media made trying to embarass french player with a cornelien choice between National team or their employer.
“you better dam well slam everybody who’s doing it regardless of race.” : one day may be someone could explain me what is the problem between the north americans, the europeans and the word RACE. Do you think italians are a race? I will give you my perception of this word. No Offense to you, but it could be interesting to know if it is a cultural difference or not. For me, french education and european one may be(don’t really know if it is the same for all, may be it is different for english, but i m not sure) the word race or blood to distinguish a nationality from an other, appear racist. The believe there is several human races is racist. The italian who think they are the glorious descendants of Jules César or the French the descendants of Vercingétorix are not only (often) racist but ignorant too. The only really difference could be the langage and the difference cultural created by it, even if Chomsky showed all these langage have the same construction and the same roots.
My intuition, but i could be wrong, it is that some north americans always referred to race or blood to try to find a link of their senese of belonging or identity they had lost with culture.

By: Francois

Francois — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:35:46 +0000

The FFF and Platini have basically condemned Domenech’s comments. They have a good relationship with the FIGC and don’t wish to cause a war between the two federations because of some idiodic comment. Italian football is what it is at the moment and unless someone can bring forth some solid testamony or concrete evidence which proves these claims than I will just believe that this is all BS to make headlines, which sounds more believable to me. At the heart of it people want it to be true, they thrive on it and hide behind it. Suddenly everybody is allowed to do what ever they want because the world is watching the Italians. Our players dive and so do countless others but because the Italians dive we get the wink and nod. German football was also embroiled in a scandal but because an Italian scandal was exposed, no one said a single derogatory thing about Germans, not that I read anyway. I just don’t like biases and discrimination. I think if you’re going to slam someone for doing something than you better dam well slam everybody who’s doing it regardless of race. The problems in football are not just about Italians it’s about this attitude everybody has about laying blame and pointing fingers and this sick desire to be better than your neighbor. That’s what is tearing this game apart not some greedy Italian managers. I would have thought the game is above all that but apparently it isn’t. Domenech is entitled to his views and opinions but to keep beating a dead horse just shows his lack of class. I hope to God if France loses on Sept 8 that you people will have enough class not to attack our opponents verbally. Instead, why don’t you set an example for some of the young people (could be one of yours kids) that might be reading these posts.

By: Thierry

Thierry — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:09:15 +0000

Yes a petition,

We, neuneu fans of french team insist on Domenech abdication and his immediate replacement by Didier Deschamps.
The simply fact he managed to lead French team to the final after two tremendous disasters didn’t convinced us, we want the guy who was fired by all the team he worked for.
Moreover who is Domenech to have an opinion about football ?
And who gave him the right to express himself, and to have his personnal impressions or feelings ?
Don’t we live in a capitalistic world with a strong hierarchy in any domains and the only freedom to shut up?
Domenech ironised after a dinner on what he think the capacity of some italian teams to find an agreement with referees. But what a scandal !! How could he imagine a such thing !!
We cheer Trezeguet for his courage and his “justice” sense.

P.S: Juventus is in first league, now ? Milan AC and Berlusconi managed to win the champion league, finally, may be there is a justice(don’t know where but probably there is…). Poor Berlusconi more than 1142 legal proceedings against him. A possibly conversation between Trezeguet and Del Piero:
-So i didn’t understood who will take the penalty this time you or me.
-Me you scored it last week. I wonder a thing when the result of a game is already done between Referees and the two teams, in fact the players “acted” to play, no ?

By: sandrahn

sandrahn — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:52:11 +0000

Well I have no problems with any criticisms against Italian football (I lived there for over 3 years, I lost all my illusions about calcio a long time ago) but it was a VERY stupid thing for Domenech to say publicly. Incredibly stupid. Esp. just head of the Euro qualifier. I’ve never been convinced by Domenech as a national coach, despite the successes he has had. Deschamps would be a far better choice.

But Laurie, you didn’t focus on Domenech’s other statements in the same interview (equally ludicrous) praising Materazzi as the supposed “man of the tournament” and making veiled criticisms of zidane.

And spare me the “sore loser” label from any Italians–the biggest sore losers in international football are historically the Italians, they whine when they lose, they whine when they win.

I well remember the punditry, Italian coach and fan reaction at the 2002 wc, Italy’s defeat at the 2002 Euros and the 1998 wc.