France coach Raymond Domenech expressed his sadness as his tenure ended with his squabbling side making an early exit from the FIFA World Cup™. Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela gave South Africa a 2-1 victory in this Group A game at the Free State Stadium, although they too are out of the tournament.

After stripping Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra of the captaincy – the result of the squad boycotting a training session – Domenech saw his side reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off. Although Florent Malouda stepped off the bench to pull a goal back in the second half, France are returning to Paris tomorrow.

Domenech, who embraced his players at the end, said: “The over-riding emotion is one of sadness. We would have liked the dream to have continued. I shook hands with the players because we have been through some difficult times together. We need to be dignified in victory and defeat. Our goal showed we had taken a step forward.

“I have had a splendid adventure for the last six years, good times and bad times. It is impossible to summarise at the moment what has happened. I cannot analyse things yet. I am not concerned about myself only the French team and its future.”

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc is about to take over to try to revive France’s fortunes and stop the team imploding. Domenech added: “Good luck to my successor and the French team. I wish them all the best. I will be their number one fan.”

France manager Raymond Domenech has played down his squad’s troubled build-up to the FIFA World Cup™ which culminated in a 1-0 defeat by China on Friday on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion.

“To lose against China in our final build-up game hardly pleases me but at the end of the day it remains a preparation match,” he said. “Now we get down to the real thing.”

Asked if he intended to tinker with his lineup following poor performances by his strikers against China (0-1), Tunisia (1-1) and Costa Rica (2-1), Domenech told French TV: “Everything is possible. We will see what the players can manage on Friday [against Uruguay].”

France also face hosts South Africa and Mexico in Group A as they attempt to reach the Final once again having lost to Italy in Germany four years ago.

A vicious free-kick by Deng Zhuoxiang earned China a 1-0 win over France on Friday as Les Bleus slumped to a dispiriting defeat in their last 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ warm-up game.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was completely bamboozled by the dipping trajectory of Deng’s 68th-minute strike. The hosts largely controlled the game but did not begin to threaten until they had gone behind and they sign off their pre-tournament preparations with a win, a draw and a loss after beating Costa Rica 2-1 and tying 1-1 with Tunisia.

The 2006 runners-up travel to South Africa on Saturday and begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against Uruguay on 11 June. “I’m disappointed. Losing a match, even a friendly, even a World Cup preparation match, is never nice,” said France coach Raymond Domenech. “Now we have to analyse the match. I’m disappointed, particularly for the players and the public. But the World Cup is not today. It starts on June 11.”

Playing on the French island of Reunion for the first time in their history, France persisted with the 4-3-3 formation that they have adopted since the start of their pre-finals training camp and, as in their last two matches, the majority of their best play came down the left.

Florent Malouda had a sight of goal in the first minute after his run down the inside-left channel was spotted by Nicolas Anelka but his low centre was diverted away from goal by China goalkeeper Zeng Cheng’s left leg. Franck Ribery and Yoann Gourcuff both had shots from distance saved, while William Gallas saw an instinctive backheel ruled out for offside.

Gallas headed narrowly wide from a corner later in the first half but for all their territorial dominance, France were often careless in possession and lacked a cutting edge. Ribery was the source of France’s most purposeful attacking play, but with just under half an hour to play he ceded his place to Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Thierry Henry and Abou Diaby also entered the fray but it was China who broke the deadlock when Deng embarrassed Lloris from 35 yards with his side’s first shot on target of the game.

Zeng then had to save twice in quick succession from Govou and Henry, while Henry headed wide from Diaby’s pass and Gignac curled a low effort straight into Zeng’s midriff. The China goalkeeper thwarted France three times in the closing stages, pulling off good saves to deny Diaby, Gourcuff and, bravely, Henry, before Gallas miscued in front of an open goal in injury time.

Coach Raymond Domenech believes the weight of expectation from the French public will help Les Bleus thrive at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ finals.

Domenech’s side complete their preparations for the South Africa showpiece with a final friendly against China on the French overseas territory of Reunion on Friday night.

He told French television channel Antenne Reunion: “The impact of the public may bring a form of pressure, but a positive pressure from people who feel that the France team should succeed.

“This is really what I wanted and what I expected,” said the coach, so often a lightning rod with members of the media and fans in France. “We must refocus to prepare for the match against China and be ready against Uruguay (France’s World Cup opener in Cape Town on 11 June).

“I feel my players are determined. And the addition of the public pressure will put the final touches to our mental preparation,” he went on.  “They know what to expect. They also know what people expect of them. It is most important.”

Les Bleus have been drawn in Group A in South Africa alongside the hosts, Uruguay and Mexico.

source : www.fifa.com

France coach Raymond Domenech opted on Monday not to call-up a replacement for defensive midfielder Lassana Diarra to his squad for next month’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa.

The French coach revealed on the French Football Federation (FFF) website that he was confident the 23 players he had with him at this ski resort would perform well at the finals, which run from 11 June to 11 July.

“We thought about it [calling up a replacement for Diarra] a long time,” said Domenech, who had originally had 24 players at the camp until Diarra fell ill. “However, we are placing our confidence in the 23 players here at Tignes, who are really hungry to go to the World Cup finals, and show us that every day,” he said.

Diarra had been ruled out of the finals on Saturday after being diagnosed with an intestinal illness. Diarra joined Real Madrid from Portsmouth in January 2009, having previously played for Chelsea and Arsenal.

With Lyon’s Jeremy Toulalan he forms Domenech’s first-choice defensive midfield partnership and he played in 10 of France’s 12 matches in their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign. Arsenal’s Abou Diaby played in his position in France’s training session on Saturday afternoon.

Les Bleus begin their World Cup campaign against Group A rivals Uruguay in Cape Town on 11 June.

France’s squad

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos/GRE), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

*Please note that squad lists only become official after they have been submitted to and announced by FIFA.

source : www.fifa.com

France coach Raymond Domenech is confident William Gallas will be fit for the FIFA World Cup™.

The defender, whose contract with Arsenal expires this summer, has been troubled by a calf injury and is battling to make the plane to South Africa. Although he won’t be risked in Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica, his performances at a training camp in Tignes have cheered the French boss.

Domenech told TF1: “After what we saw in training we can be optimistic. It is not the same in a game, however, and with the calf we must be careful. We want him to be ready for the World Cup.”

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is another hoping 32-year-old Gallas pulls through. He told the Journal du Dimanche: “It is better for us if William is fit. He is important and the opposing forwards think differently when he plays. They know they have a mountain to climb.”

Domenech outlined his intention to give Gallas as much time as possible by including him in his reduced 24-man squad which then became 23 when Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra was forced to pull out with a stomach problem.

source : www.fifa.com

France coach Raymond Domenech has announced his FIFA World Cup™ squad from which only one player, likely to be a defender, will be omitted in the coming days.

A 24-man squad, whittled down from a list of 30 revealed last week, will next week take part in a three-day training camp at altitude in the French ski resort of Tignes.

Domenech is scheduled to announce his definitive 23-man squad on 27 May, prior to their departure for a second training camp in Tunisia. Among the most notable absentees from the 24-man squad are Marseille striker Hatem Ben Arfa and Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

Defenders Adil Rami and Rod Fanni, midfielder Yann Mvila and striker Jimmy Briand were also among the six players stripped from the 30-man squad. Among those retained were Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, Bordeaux defender Marc Planus and Bordeaux ‘keeper Cedric Carrasso.

Valbuena, known for his workmanlike qualities and diminutive size – he stands only 1.63m tall – was called up for the first time in March 2008 before being sidelined by injury. His achievement this time is all the more notable as he began the French league season mostly warming the Marseille substitutes bench.

The absence of Rami and the inclusion of only four central defenders suggests Domenech may call upon defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan to drop back a notch if needed. If that is Domenech’s long-term strategy Bordeaux defender Planus could become the 24th man and miss out on the trip to South Africa where each team has a maximum squad of 23.

Landreau meanwhile misses out for the second major tournament in a row, having been among the seven squad players dropped prior to the start of the Euro 2008.

Carrasso now officially replaces Landreau as France’s third choice goalkeeper after Lyon stopper Hugo Lloris and Marseille ‘keeper Steve Mandanda. France, who lost to Italy in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, are in Group A with hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos/GRE), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

* Please note that squad lists only become official after they have been submitted to and announced by FIFA.

source : www.fifa.com