The decision of the French national team officials to appoint Raymond Domenech as Jacques Santini’s successor will prove to be one of the worst in history. The colourful coach has done wonders with one of the best European sides, transforming them into the team that struggles against Faroe Islands. Raymond Domenech has been ruining the reputation of Les Bleus for more than five years and I really don’t know what he needs to do to get the boot. Maybe tonight’s defeat in Serbia would do the trick.
Raymond Domenech spent big part of his playing career in Lyon and he was known as one of those old style defenders that would do anything just to stop their opponent. Need I say that he had no technical skills whatsoever and that he wasn’t really the best possible candidate for the coaching career? He, nevertheless took up coaching and after ten years in charge of Les Bleus under-21 side somehow managed to get appointed as the boss of the senior national team.
He immediately became the laughing stock of the nation when he opted not to call certain players like Robert Pires because of the ‘unfavourable’ star sign. His side struggled to reach the World Cup 2006 even though their main competitors were Republic of Ireland and Switzerland. France managed to reach the final but Domenech had nothing to do with that success.
Les Bleus were then eliminated from the Euro 2008 after the group stage, but yet again Domenech stayed. France are now largely struggling in the World Cup qualifiers and they are four points adrift of Serbia, the team they will face tonight in Belgrade, but nobody is surprised any more. Narrow wins over Faroe Islands, defeats to Austria and draws against Romania at Saint Denis have become a normal thing for what was not so long ago the team that ruled the World. And they have only mad man Domenech to thank to.
The players are aware that Domenech doesn’t know much about football and even captain Henry admitted they don’t really know what the boss wants them to do on the pitch. Domenech, on the other hand, continues with ridiculous statements like the one where he said the match in Belgrade would not be decisive for his side even though the defeat in this match would see them lose all chances to finish top of the group.
When one see who is leading one of the best national teams in Europe, one has to wonder just what kind of people are in charge of the football association in France. Maybe Domenech has signed an eternal contract with France national team that states a heavy punishment will be inflicted upon those who try to sack him, since that would be the only logical explanation as to why he is still the national team boss.
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I completely and utterly agree. Were it not for the old guard – Zidane, Makelele, Thuram coming back to save the qualifying campaign for the World Cup and then make that amazing run to the finals, Domenech would have been out then. The Euros were an absolute disaster, and I have no idea how the FFF did not sack him after that display. And now France faces not making the World Cup because of his incompetence. Keep blogging about him needing to go!!! Maybe the French FA will listen.
My thoughts – http://thebeantownfrog.blogspot.com/2009/09/heat-is-turned-up-on-domenech.html