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Domenech happy to confound critics in search of success
PARIS: France coach Raymond Domenech sometimes riles opponents with his
comments. His results, however, speak for themselves.
The only France coach to qualify Les Bleus for two consecutive major tournaments,
Domenech led France to the final of the 2006 World Cup when many believed
the team had no chance.
At next month's European Championship, Domenech's coaching chops again
will be tested in a daunting group that includes World Cup champion Italy,
the Netherlands and a revitalized Romania.
Just how Domenech likes it.
Whether its moaning about slow ball boys, claiming to use telepathic communication,
or expressing mistrust of players born under the Scorpio sign, Domenech
is among soccer's most colorful coaches. Although his detractors have
been manifold, France has lost only five of 48 matches under Domenech.
France remains hopeful of a third European title precisely because Domenech
has managed to build a new team in the post-Zinedine Zidane era.
"We have a solid platform to build on," Domenech said. "You
don't go far in a major competition unless you are well organized."
Although France lost to Scotland twice in Euro 2008 qualifying, Domenech's
team nevertheless qualified from a tough group that included Italy and
Ukraine. He also made some trademark obscure comments.
When France lost to Scotland 1-0 in October 2006, Domenech pointed the
finger at an unusual culprit.
"I was disappointed with the ball boys for slowing down the game,"
Domenech said. "I think they may have been educated in that. It's
regrettable that it was here in a country known for its fair play."
While keeping experienced players such as Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram,
Domenech has nurtured talents such as 20-year-old striker Karim Benzema
- who has scored 30 goals for Lyon this season - and Marseille's Samir
Nasri.
Under Domenech, Nicolas Anelka has mellowed from angry rebel to model
team player, a feat no other France coach ever managed with the tempestuous
striker.
Still, Domenech has fallen out with the likes of David Trezeguet, and
incurred the wrath of club managers Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and former
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho by not resting stars such as Thierry Henry
for friendly matches, or for insisting Makelele keep playing for his country.
Nevertheless, it was Domenech who talked Thuram out of international retirement
to help qualify France for the 2006 World Cup. Thuram, France's all-time
leader with 138 international appearances, is still playing.
In the lead-up to the last World Cup, Domenech was lambasted after a series
of draws left France in danger of not qualifying. But Domenech repeated
a peculiar mantra over and over: "July 9" - the day of the World
Cup final."
France began that tournament with a 0-0 draw against Switzerland and a
1-1 draw against South Korea.
Again the critics lined up, again Domenech repeated his "July 9"
mantra before wins over Spain, Brazil and Portugal to reach the final
against Italy - where Zidane was sent off for head-butting Italy defender
Marco Materazzi and France lost on penalty kicks.
Bizarrely, Domenech praised Materazzi in a newspaper interview a year
later.
"In the World Cup final, you score a goal, get the best opposing
player sent off and you score your penalty. No matter what you tell me
about (Andrea) Pirlo, Materazzi was man of the match," Domenech said.
Domenech was also suspended for a European Championship qualifier at Italy
in September 2007 for accusing the Italians of fixing an Olympic qualifying
match eight years earlier.
Asked how he would communicate with his squad during the suspension, Domenech
replied: "telepathy."
Such bullish or eccentric comments have become the 56-year-old Domenech's
domain, but they mask a tough resolve.
The son of a Catalan father - Raimundo Domenech fled Spain in 1939 during
the Spanish Civil War - Domenech was born in Lyon in 1952.
After a brief spell as a striker, Domenech made his debut at right back
for Lyon when he was 18, and played eight times for France as a roughhouse
defender nicknamed "Le casseur de jambes," or "the leg
breaker."
He coached Mulhouse (1985-88) and Lyon (1988-93), earning promotion to
the first division in 1989.
An excellent tactician, Domenech was appointed coach of the under-21 team
in 1993 and shortly after France's elimination from Euro 2004, he replaced
Jacques Santini as coach.
A lover of astrology, Domenech has publicly stated his mistrust of Scorpios
and, for good measure, added that Leos don't make good defenders because
they need to show off.
And in his first news conference upon replacing Santini, Domenech spoke
of his infant daughter, Victoire, and said he had named her with victory
at the 2006 World Cup in mind.
International
Herald Tribune, May 10, 2008
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