Domenech is Not France’s Only Problem…

No Gignac should stay he is not the problem at all. The players are not the problem whatis they are nervous I can see it and im sure most people also. The crowd is very impatient and the players don’t feel comfortable at all maybe its because they feel like they have to please the crowd instead of the crowd helping them.

The players want to play for their country and I can see how excited they are when they do score even when it was against the faroe islands. I think to cure their problem is to please the crowd by getting a new coach.

I personally think part of the problem started out as overconfidence as a nation as a whole, and as overconfidence brought losses, which brought a shattered confidence, the losses continued. Combine this shattered confidence with a terrible coach in which the players know shouldn’t be at the helm…and you have a poor France team.

Having said that, I think the remedy is a win against a big team…but that’s where the problem comes in…

Since when do we have left-back woes? Patrice Evra and Eric Abidal are the two best left backs in the world. Full stop. Clichy, Cissokho, and Jeremy Mathieu are class as well. If they aren’t preforming well for the NT it’s not a lack of quality with them but a lack of motivation/poor coaching, both of which are the fault of Domenech.

Which brings me to another point. The motivation and lack of effort in the players is Domenech’s fault. Under a better coach they would try harder, they would be motivated. Domenech appears to be one of the worst motivators out there.

I can’t find a flaw in Mark’s analysis.

I don’t buy that motivation is solely Domenech’s job. What is the point in having all these team leaders then? Henry, Gallas, Anelka, etc – aren’t they supposed to be rousing the troops? And isn’t it supposed to be an immense pride wearing a blue shirt? Even if you have the worse manager in the world, shouldn’t the players have the spark of life in them, at all?

Sure, Domenech has man-management issues, and I’m not denying that France could do with a better coach. But I don’t think you can hold Domenech responsible for everything that went wrong last Wednesday. All those missed passes, poor tackles, and horrible targeting – that’s all on the players. Even if they are having confidence issues, both in themselves and in their manager, these are professional players. Most have been playing on the big stages for years and should be used to facing high pressure situations in uncomfortable environments. Of course, even the best teams have one or two bad games, but an entire string of them? The fact that they couldn’t even try to win – forget actually winning – is what disappoints me. If France had gone down fighting, that would be different.

A crappy manager doesn’t absolve the players of their own responsibilities. Otherwise the manager would be the only person who mattered.

Thomas: I have not been impressed with Evra for a year now in his games for France. I agree that he’s a class LB, but he tends to play better for club than for country. I do like Abidal as a LB, but he keeps being played as a CB. I wouldn’t mind seeing Evra dropped to give one of the other potentials a try.

I really blame it completely on Domenech’s selection process. Calling up simply the best players is not good enough anymore. Brazil practically killed that strategy at the 06 World Cup with their horrible performance. The more you criticize the horrible performances of the players, world-class they may be, that’s more criticism that should be attributed to Domenech because he’s the one who selected them.

Every time a call up comes around, its the same players all the time. Players like Henry, Abidal, Gallas, Anelka, Ribery, Toulalan, and Lassana Diarra have no motivation and nothing to play for because they know, because of Domenech’s selection style, that they are going to be in the starting eleven. Because of this, they get comfortable and forget about their responsibilities in a competitive game because they know, despite their pathetic performances, they will be in the starting eleven the next game and the next game and so on because of Domenech’s selection style.

A good example would be Hugo Lloris. Lloris knows one screw up or one blunder and Mandanda, whose only two years older, will be in for him. THAT’S COMPETITION at the GK position. At every other position, there’s no competition. Why? Because Domenech eliminated selection. Look at teams like England, Italy, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, hell even Ghana and the Ivory Coast (Ironically they all finished 1st in their groups). All of their coaches show no discrimination when it comes to callups. They select the players who are solely in top form (with a few regulars included) and only that. Had Domenech consistently called up guys like Cheyrou, Nasri, Gomis, Flamini, Chalme, Planus, Cabaye, etc. (and there are many more) around the time they deserved them and made it clear that only the best players in training would play and feature with the team, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

I totally agree, but again, I feel like Domenech is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. He’s still facing criticism for not selecting Frey, and remember the uproar over Trezeguet? Pires and Giuly are still whining about it in the press despite it being like five years.

You’re right in that the established order needs a reality check. I wouldn’t mind at all to see the regulars benched or even dropped. But the moment Domemench does so, the French media (which you have to admit is notoriously fickle about this sort of thing) will start blasting Domenech, and if these new players lose a match – it’s like Dom’s experiment is over before it already began.

It’s kind of a weird catch-22 I think. Domenech doesn’t get any support from the fans or the media (which is a situation that is somewhat merited at this point), but he’s never had the kind of power that managers from other countries have. We’ve all heard of what happened at the 2006 World Cup (especially with Zidane’s demands). That probably was a good thing in hindsight, but in reality, players should never have that kind of power over their managers, no matter how incompetent the manager or how great the player. It creates these situations where the power dynamic messes with the team. If certain senior players start believing that they should have a say in how things are run, it doesn’t encourage the younger ones to listen much either.

Good points, however at the end of the day it is the person leading the team that bears the brunt when a squad does not perform up to standard. And that person is Domenech, plain and simple. We all know how hard it is to work for a bad manager, why should it be any different playing for Les Bleus? To me Domenech is the #1, #2 and #3 problem. He is the CEO of this company…and is failing.

More of my rant on Domenech -
http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/2009/11/world-cup-2010-next-9-months-for-les.html

In l’Equipe today, Henry talks about the fact that he felt let down by the FFF after the game. Plus he considered ending his NT carreer, but now wants to fight untill the end, even if “what just happend will stay carved in stone. You can forgive but not always forget”.

Couldn’t find the original interview (because for some reason l’Equipe always refused to give me the goods) but here’s a summary:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/equipe-de-france-de-football/2009/11/23/02016-20091123ARTSPO00398-henry-a-pense-arreter.php

I might be the only one who thinks this way, but I think Henry is being a little over dramatic. He’s made his apology and said he’d be okay with a replay, but the FFF and FIFA said no. End of story. This nonsense about retiring from the international scene because the ref allowed his handball to stand – please. He’s scored other controversial goals before, some in even more dodgy circumstances (hello, that free kick). He didn’t contemplate retiring then because the English FA disappointed him.

I’d like to see some players take some responsibility for the fact that they played like crap (saying that they were lucky doesn’t count). We all agree that Domemench gets most of the blame, but it’s a pipe dream to expect Domemench to say so, as he probably believes from the bottom of his heart that France were the better team. But it’d be nice if Henry could be like, “Hey, we were actually pretty terrible out there, so sorry, but we’ll be better next time, I promise.”

That’s the kind of responsibility he should be taking as team captain. As opposed to saying that he was ready to walk away.

Regardless of the player’s responsibilities, until Dom gets fired, nothing will get solved.

I would agree with Benj. A good manager can cut through the egos and get players playing as a team. Look what Capello’s done for England, and you don’t get more overpaid and overhyped than the English.

Good points, Laurie and Benj. The fact that the players don’t respect Domenech is sufficient reason to fire him.

“A crappy manager doesn’t absolve the players of their own responsibilities. Otherwise the manager would be the only person who mattered.”
I happen to concur with you on this one specially with this sport as the players on the field can freely improvise and be creative.
Dropping Anelka back to collect the ball does create a lot of space for the designated striker, as it did for Gignac, providing he can control those nerves. Unfortunately passion is not something that you can bottle and prescribe for this team.
I felt as Squillaci settled down he was playing well, specially given his height is something that we need at the center back position.
How about that SAGNA? SOLID AS A ROCK!!!

Good blog, thanks to Inara for helping us all move on and think about practicalities.

Re Henry’s comments…I think he has a legit complaint to make about the way the FFF (Domenech too) have let the world crucify him with no public support. Wenger made the same comment in his press conference last week–the FFF just let him take all this hatred and abuse alone and yet HE got France to the wc. I think they’ve shown him a shocking lack of loyalty. I wish Henry would retire internationally.

I think Inara is right in that the players have to take some responsibility. We gooners often have this same debate — yes, Wenger’s made mistakes but our players have often failed to prove his faith in them. Granted, AW is not Domenech. But veterans like Henry, Anelka and Gallas simply don’t show any leadership on the pitch. I don’t care how bad Dom is, there simply is no excuse for players of this caliber and experience to make so many misplaced passes and gift the ball to the opposition like a Sunday pub team. Yes, Domenech does set the tone and it’s obvious that all he generates is a malaise in this team. So why don’t any of these players step up and do something about it?

I think that the situation is not that bad. France is the seventh ranked team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings — higher than Argentina and England. All the top teams have had some rough patches. Russia got knocked out of World Cup qualifying by previously 49th ranked Slovenia.

The main thing France should focus on is defense. France was noted for having one of the best defenses in the game. There was a time when a French goal keeper would hardly see any action, except for set pieces. This is also the area in which we are mostly vulnerable.

The team just needs to have the right approach. For some strange reason Les Bleus generally have slow starts and usually have a better second half than first half, such what occurred against Italy in the last World Cup final. It’s as if they wait for their opponents to turn on their game, then they respond. The coach has to ensure that the teams is fired up from the get go. France tends play to the level of opposing teams. I would still bet on them to beat number one ranked Brazil again. They just have to keep up their tempo throughout a game.

It really doeas aggrivate me that Domenech is still in the job. I sure hope there is a new coach by spring. Are there any chances at all?….also, I’m going to be going to the France ? Spain friendly in march, hopefully we don’t lose that bad.

Fabrice, I’m Brazilian and support my national team (tho I can’t say I’m very enthusiastic about Dunga’s team), except when they play against France — at which point, I prefer a draw, tho I’m ok with either one winning or losing. Anyway, there’s a good reason that I too have no doubt that France can beat Brazil, and that’s because we haven’t been able beat France since 1958. France are Brazil’s #1 bogey team and I’ve seen nothing in Dunga’s team to change that hoodoo.

i agree with inara in avery point givin the team is out coached avery time, i hate domenech as much as anyone but the players have to start playing with a bit passion, it is very boring to watch them play cause it seems that no one is trying except for a few, internationally the manager only job is picking the team, and give a lilte motivitional talk to the players, the rest is up to them since they practise with there clubs and should already know how to play football, the players are almost as much to blame as domenech, but i still want him gone.

Sandrahn, not quite so … even if they were friendlies:

http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/match_detail.php?nomatch=505

http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/match_detail.php?nomatch=404

http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/match_detail.php?nomatch=404

Fabrice, that France is 7th in Fifa rankings suggests to me that either fifa doesn’t know what its doing or, if accurate, the WC2010 is up for grabs, with only Spain/Brazil the clearly superior teams.

Still can’t see Brazil winning it since no Confed Cup winner ever goes on to win the wc and Brazil routinely disappoint every time they’re favorites. Plus I don’t expect a European team to win it because they never win tournaments outside Europe. I keep thinking we’ll all be surprised at the winner in S. Africa.

the one consistency with les bleus lately is that the players never seem to be able to play up to their potential, or even close to their club form usually either. whether its benzema, or evra, gourcuff, or gallas, at any given moment about 80% of the team’s players are underperforming.

the question is: is it a lack of motivation…or something more?

Is it just me, or do they seem to play especially bad in Paris?

THIS IS THE RIGHT TEAM

LLIORIS
SAGNA
GALLAS
ABIDAL
EVRA
TOULALAN
CHEROUY(MARSEILLE)WATCHING 2 NITE
RIBERY
GORCUFF
BENZEMA

HENRY I LOVE HIM EVERY ONE KNOWS HIS LITTLE TRICKS, TOO SLOW AS WELL,IF THE PLAYER DON’T LISTEN TO DOMENECH THAN THEY WILL DO GOOD
ANELKA

The players don’t want to play for this man. Period. It’s evident and unless something drastic happens it will continue to be this way. So it’s really one of three options:

1) Replace Domenech
2) Replace all the players
3) Throw a sleep over pizza party and have everyone make nice

I suggest that the French team, in their first WC match, score 5 goals – all own goals, and all by hand.

And then say adieu. And leave the tournament to the honest teams.

Look at Arsenal this past weekend, now we know Wenger is one hell of a coach, but when your players are not playing up to their potential, what is he supposed to do?
The players can change the outcome and put away all the bickering much like Zizou did in the last W.C. this team does have a lot of stars but not a clear LEADER!

France has always played dirty football(cheating)..and they get away with it..rewind to 2006 world cup..Spain were elading and dominating 1-0 in the 39th minute, Henry barges into Puyol who was about to get the ball comfortably and in a shocking move the refere decides not to book henry and also atrociously awards france a freekick from which they score
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGfyV_mgUk

ifrance just played ONE GREAT MATCH the whole tourney and that too against Brazil, in semis Henry dives to claim penalty, in the final, materrazzi´s breath makes malouda dive atrociously for a penalty..France did not and could not score a legal goal in the semis and final.
world cup 2010 will be different..France will be marked..

SpanishBunt, France manhandled Spain in that game. Spain only scored because of a soft penalty on Thuram IIRC. How do you account for the two other goals that were scored against Spain in that game? Did France cheat on those as well? In the Portugal game, they wanted to save their strength for the next match, and because several French players were on yellow cards. So the wanted to play it safe after they scored the goal. The penalty was legitimate.

And in the final against Italy, France dominated possession in the second half as well as in overtime despite being down to ten men because Zidane was sent off. And don’t tell me that the Italians wanted the match to go to penalty kicks!

In South Africa: Boooooh France out right from the start.

If it wasn’t for Buffon in the finals of 2006 the deal would’ve been sealed long time ago before the end of the match not losing in penalty shots. You call that sportsmanship swearing at someone’s family member? but of course that’s not cheating! So happy the way they got their asses kicked in Korea!

A lot of idiots on this website seem to think that France are the ONLY team in the entire history of the sport and the ONLY team going to
S. Africa with results achieved by questionable incidents. I guesss no other team going to S. Africa ever had a player in their entire qualifying campaign who dived for a penalty (given by the ref) and scored a goal, or committed a handball not seen by the ref (and a goal resulted from itscored from it), or committed some other act of cheating. To the ignorant morons in this website, France INVENTED handballs, they’re the only team EVER to have committed a handball in the sport’s entire history. Apparently every other team going to S. Africa had absolutely 100% SPOTLESS qualifying campaigns — never mind that Robbie Keane committed TWO handballs in the penalty box in the 2nd leg playoff v. France AND Keane dived to get a totally undeserved penalty against Georgia – and the Irish players CELEBRATED their win in that game, a win they got thru blatant CHEATING.

NEWSFLASH: France did NOT NOT NOT steal Ireland’s place in the wc! Henry’s handball prevented the game from going to PENALTIES.

Fabrice and Foreverzidane, u have posted lies, lies and more lies…
For the starters, spain were running thru France leading by one goal when henry CHEATED and the refere helped..it is amazing that Fabrice agrees to the cheating bit and referes to the other two goals as a redeemer,,pathetic..Facts r facts, spain were elading when referee helps the cheating Henry who falls down after fouling Puyol, that decision upsets the spanish..France cheat against Portugal, that was NOT A NOT apenalty in milion years, Carvalho did not hack down henry but touches his ankle, just a touch and henry goes down like a bullet..But in any case, that was a boring match with no real chances..
Now the arrogance and lies of fabrice and foreverzidane is astounding regarding the final match..In the 3rd minute, henry runs against Cannavaro(watch the replay, Henry runs against cannavaro9, feigns like he is fainted(trie to send off the best central defender of that world cup) but luckily the Argentinian refere doesnt buy it, but soon after wards, Malouda dives at no touch, it was shocking, there was not even a touch from materrazzi, not even a faint touch and France go ahead with the penalty…Italia equalise with a legal goal, then that tall italian centreforward hits the bar with his towering header, then the same forward has a goal incorrectly disallowed for an inexistant offside, agreed france had more possession, but would have never scored if the match were played for 24 hours, would never have scored..France just had only one attempt at the goal, the bullet header from Zidane which Buffon saved in the extra time…that is all..France did not even have a single attempt at goal creating chances, better possession doesnt mean they deserved the win..infact, france cheated for the their only goal, also it is strange and hilarious to see people blaming Materrazzi..Words r exchanged in the matches, but Zidane has no righ tto head butt and was sent off in the 2nd half of the extra time..
also, if spain were to play France today, they would crush them…also, italia, a depleted, slow, jaded italia embarrassed France 2-0 in the Euro cup, i swear it would have been 7 -0 if not for Toni incredibly hitting the posts 5 times..

Spanishbunt I actually like your passion about your team and the game but you’re on the wrong thread as we’re discussing whether the coach is the main reason for the downward spiral of Les Bleus! However it seems that your blind hatred of France and Titi is defying your perception of the game of football.I truly think that you’re missing the point of how talented and poised the 2006 France team was, under the leadership of Zidane. Brazil has not beaten this team since before I was born and that’s long time ago.
In case you forgot please review and refresh your memory and watch the final match against Italy and observe waves after waves of French attackers making Cannavaro hoping that the match will go into penalties as that was their only chance. Of course the French team is the one and only team in the world that gets away with cheating time after time after time.
Now could you please leave this board or discuss what the subject matter is instead of rehashing the past, I think we’re all tired of it.

Some interesting comments from Aimé Jacquet this week:

“PARIS, Nov 27 (Reuters) – France should have changed their coach after their Euro 2008 flop instead of leaving Raymond Domenech in charge, former France coach Aime Jacquet was quoted as saying on Friday. Domenech, who was appointed in 2004 and has been under fire since France exited Euro 2008 in the group stage, has faced even more criticism since France’s controversial World Cup playoff win over Ireland.
“Four years, that’s enough,” Jacquet, who was in place from 1994 to 1998 and guided France to their World Cup triumph on home soil in his final year, told France Football magazine.
“After that, it’s too tough, there are too many factors that stop you from working correctly,” Jacquet added. “That’s what I blame (French Football Federation) FFF for. They didn’t understand the real nature of a coach’s work and should have protected him, whathever he wished. It’s a job you can only do for four years because you face so much exposure. Therefore, you see what I mean, after Euro 2008…”
Jacquet, who said Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland which set up the decisive goal was “reprehensible” but he could understand the player, said Domenech should stay in charge now that France had qualified for the World Cup but should accept a debate over the way his team played.
“I totally realise a coach must be judged by his results and if he gets results, if he qualifies the team, he must stay on,” Jacquet said. “But that does not stop us from talking about the team’s playing style or, rather, the lack of it.”

foreverzidane, i have watched the final match France vs Italy and iam amazed that u r posting lies and fiction..The match started frantically, France tried to cheat from the first minute, i advise u to watch it carefully, the whole world has seen it, henry tried to cheat the referee by barging into cannavaro and feigning unconcsiousness…also, malouda got a penalty by diving..dont even lie..that was the only way france was going to score..italians score a great valid goal from set piece, italians hit the post and had a valid goal not allowed for an inexistant offside, agreed france had more possession in the second half but without any single serious attempt on the goal, except a solid zidane header deep into extra time..no way france were going to score in a million years!!france did not even score a LEGAL goal in the semis and finals, they had to dive and cheat(henry and malouda)for penalties..watch the highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4JnwjcjyaM
see the malouda goal..a shame..a blot on footaball..dont speak lies , france did not deserve a place in 2010 world cup , henry juggled the ball twice, just like he cheated in 2006 worl cup thrice

spanishbunt:
“Spain were elading and dominating 1-0 in the 39th minute, Henry barges into Puyol who was about to get the ball comfortably and in a shocking move the refere decides not to book henry and also atrociously awards france a freekick from which they score”
“For the starters, spain were running thru France leading by one goal when henry CHEATED and the refere helped”

Score was already 1-1 since Ribery scored at 41st min, freekick leading to Vieira’s goal was at 83rd. The 40 min between these two goals were slightly dominated by France. Before disgressing you should learn your football History a little more.

Honestly who gives a shit about Spain,Italy,or any other country.Let’s focus on US and that’s it.No need to say a country or players cheat, because since sports began there has always been cheaters so this has to end.OK NOW LET’S FOCUS ON THE FRENCH TEAM.

The players if they had balls would strike, yea you heard me, they should say WE WILL PLAY UNDER DOMENECH they should all refuse the next cap, YOU WILL SEE HOW QUICK DOMENECH IS OUT, Paul le guen coach of Cameroon and if Jacket have now said ENOUGH.ok so now what?????

The Villarreal midfielder has laid into the national coach, describing him as a coward…
Nov 14, 2009 1:10:51 PM

Photo GalleryZoomRaymond Domenech (France)
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France outcast Robert Pires has resumed his war of words with Raymond Domenech, as the national trainer prepares les Bleus for the first leg of their vital World Cup play-off with Ireland today.

Pires is still fuming with Domenech’s decision to push him into the sidelines and has questioned how the much-maligned coach is still in charge of the squad.

“I never left the national team, he threw me out,” he raged on Radio Marca.

“I criticised him once, saying that what we were doing was not the right path to be following. In the end he threw me out of the team and what I said proved me to be right, because now we have to play a difficult match in order to qualify for the World Cup.

“I’m angry with him because he never talked to me face to face. He is a chicken s***, he doesn’t have a personality.

Spanishbunt , so what exactly is your point? Would having this team barred from international tournaments forever improve your life?
It’s rather disturbing to read the level of hatred you have for the French in general!?
Unlike you I think that when a team is as talented as France, Brazil or Spain it should be acknowledged. It is so sad that you carry such anti-French deep seethed feelings. Try a nice bottle of Bordeaux, that will do you good! and Please stop living in the past and let’s talk W.C. 2010.

foreverzidane, sorry to say this, but facts r facts,,France was talented with players like platini, papin, deschamps, blanc, gourseff,ribery, barthez, gignac,toulalan…but the players u refer r not talented, they cheat, henry has cheated in the last world cup and also according to sepp blatter, the worst cheating in the game is when a player cheats by handling the ball and henry did it twice..he is a convicted cheat..what talent r u speaking about??

Spanishbunt I know man specially that ZiZou is the biggest talentless, Cheating African to have played the game. Exactly right! So in your opinion then this Cheating gene phenomenon is only amongst the Africans? Ah very interesting, then we should expect a big scandal again since the whole mother of all tournaments is going to take place there in a few months!

By the way Thiery was born in Les Ulis which last time I checked was still in France, which rightfully gives him a French Nationality, So I don’t really get it brother, you got me baffled!

lollllllllllll at forever zidane!!!!!……..zidane is one of the greats who took France along with blanc(superb..his value was as great as zidane´s),deschamps( a great leader who led by example),brathez( one of the greatest goalies of our generation) ,petit( wow!!)..i might remind u, Henry was a collosal flop in the 1998 french world cup campaign!!!!!and he was a flop in 2002 campaign and he dived and cheated in 2006 and he cheated blatantly for qualifying to 2010..
yesterday, henry was replaced by ibra who scored the winner against madrid, henry wont be allowed to cheat here after, the reputation of the game is at stake

Okay everyone, I’ve had to edit and delete some offensive comments. Just a quick reminder to everyone that this blog is NOT the appropriate place to discuss what constitutes French national identity. It is pointless– and until the FFF, FIFA or the French government changes its immigration policies these players are able to play for both France and/or their parent’s country so I suggest you just get use to it. You can make comments on players who should or should not be picked for the French team– but comments that make this argument based on race will be deleted. You’ve been warned.

Please, let’s focus on more practical matters and finally move on from this asinine debate.

Thanks eduardo! It just amazes me how supporters of other teams specially Italians come here to post their racist comments. Meanwhile even the Germans now have players on their team who were not born in Germany, but the ugly racist comments against black players is all fine and dandy.
I seriously hope if France won’t win the cup in 2010, Ghana would take the cup and set a precedent much like Obama!

This Spanishbunt ****head seems to be as racist as f*** with his all white team of “platini, papin, deschamps, blanc, gourseff,ribery, barthez, gignac,toulalan”. Foreverzidane if I was you i would just let a fool like this go on and have a laugh at himself andnot exchange words. I have had alot of morons who dont know history (as most black players are french from french carribien) or even the football thay they argue about. How can you say Henry an Zidane are not talented when Henry is rated by expert to be the most talented foreign proffesional to ever play in UK and Zidane I think I should not say anything we should just listen to Pele and Maradona speak about him like they have. By the way I am Portugal and I have heated arguments that we are better than France but I was the least upset to be beat by a team equaling us (et least as Portugues I should be allowed to think).