Domenech is Not France’s Only Problem…

November 22nd, 2009 | by: Inara |

Regardless of how France got to the World Cup and whether they deserve to be there, the reality is that this summer, Les Bleus will be in South Africa with Raymond Domenech as their coach. I’m not really interested in revisiting Henry’s goal or the resulting fallout from that, as its been covered very well by Laurie, Jeff, and Daryl.

totalsadness

Instead, I’d like to discuss more practical matters. With the amount of talent France has, there is no fathomable reason that they should be completely outclassed by a weaker Irish side, and yet it did happen. Twice. And it’s not just the Irish – so many times this year, France have looked lost at sea against opponents that aren’t anywhere in their league.

Domenech carries much of the blame, but the problem is more significant than that. His sense of tactical strategy may be on par with his sense of tact, but even bad game plans ought to carried out with enthusiasm by the players. While the Irish were playing like they actually cared, France didn’t give a shit. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think I was watching the 65+ Sunday league. It might be Domenech’s duty to come up with working tactics and to motivate his players (though one would think that international players would be motivated enough on their own), but once the boys are on the pitch, it’s out of Domemech’s hands. So what gives? Why couldn’t France even match 10% of Ireland’s passion?

Another thing is – and please tell me if I’m imagining it – have the players gotten worse? Each game seems to bring France to a new low. It’s been pointed out that 20 of the 24 players on France’s squad are playing in this year’s Champions League. And yet the skills and abilities they showed on the pitch wouldn’t be acceptable in the French third division. The players couldn’t maintain possession, couldn’t string two passes together, couldn’t take decent corners or freekicks, couldn’t aim, couldn’t win aerial balls, couldn’t tackle properly, weren’t able to communicate with their teammates, and had no sense of on-the-pitch strategy.

You can’t blame Domenech for the half-assery we saw from the players last Wednesday. After all, these are good players. We’ve seen them play in the past, both for club and country. We know their actual capabilities. And for the most part, Domenech is picking the squad we more or less want. Perhaps his substitutions were suspect, but if players like Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, Patrice Evra, Andre-Pierre Gignac, and Yoann Gourcuff couldn’t break through the Irish defense after 90 minutes, how much of a difference would Karim Benzema have made? No, France had more than enough quality to take care of an upstart Irish team, yet the players totally botched it.

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So while I do think that Domemech bears part of the blame, I’m also extremely angry with the players. It’s sad that over two games, only Hugo Lloris and Nicolas Anelka looked like they deserved to be there. Everyone else was an embarrassment. I guess there is definitely something to be said for not having a wallet that is so fat that you lose the hunger you had to get you there.

Unfortunately, just like we’re stuck with Domenech as our coach until the WC, we’re also forced to contend with these players. Both parties must take responsibility for the weight of expectations they agreed to bear in order to represent France. I don’t want to watch Les Bleus go to South Africa and go through another humiliating group stage exit.

So we need to start thinking about the feasible changes that need to be made. Maybe it’s time to drop Gignac. I for one think that Evra isn’t the answer to our left back woes. Perhaps Henry and Anelka need to stop being played on the wings.

Though the most important question is…just who is the best partner for Gallas?

Tags: Euro 2008

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 47 comments.

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By lefutur | November 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

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?

Posted from United States

By Steven | November 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

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

Posted from Canada

By Terry from Naples fl | November 24th, 2009 at 1:43 pm

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

By Paul | November 24th, 2009 at 3:11 pm

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

By Earthwire | November 24th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

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.

By Foreverzidane | November 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

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!

By spanishBunt | November 25th, 2009 at 6:16 am

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..

Posted from Spain

By Fabrice | November 25th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

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!

Posted from United States

By hawk | November 25th, 2009 at 5:46 pm

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

By Foreverzidane | November 25th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

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!

By sandrahn | November 25th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

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.

Posted from United States

By spanishbunt | November 26th, 2009 at 5:25 am

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..

Posted from Spain

By Foreverzidane | November 26th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

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.

By Steven | November 27th, 2009 at 8:35 am

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.”

Posted from Canada

By spanishbunt | November 27th, 2009 at 9:23 am

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

Posted from Spain

By sharkattack | November 27th, 2009 at 10:30 am

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.

Posted from Belgium

By Terry from Naples fl | November 27th, 2009 at 11:40 am

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?????

By Terry from Naples fl | November 27th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

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)
Related Links
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Raymond Domenech
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.

By Foreverzidane | November 29th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

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.

By spanishbunt | November 30th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

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??

By Foreverzidane | November 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

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!

By eduardo | November 30th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

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

By Sarah | December 1st, 2009 at 12:57 am

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.

Posted from United States

By Foreverzidane | December 2nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm

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!

By dulakris | December 6th, 2009 at 1:06 am

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).

Posted from Oman