World Cup qual. - Pires wants Wenger, Henry backs Domenech

Eurosport - Sun, 12 Oct 15:11:00 2008

Robert Pires has called for France to appoint Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in place of Raymond Domenech, while his former Gunners team-mate Thierry Henry urged the French FA to back the under-fire coach despite the team's disappointing results.

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Domenech, who steered France to the World Cup final in 2006 before they were knocked out in the first round of Euro 2008, is under intense scrutiny and his fate will be decided by the federation's board on Wednesday October 15.

The French FA said in the off-season that Domenech's situation would be assessed after the first three matches of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Les Bleus started with a shock 3-1 defeat in Austria before beating Serbia 2-1 at home in September and recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 in Romania. They are fourth in Group Seven, two points adrift of Lithuania and Serbia.

"Wenger's qualities would have a positive effect on the national team," Villarreal winger Pires, 34, was quoted as saying by the Sunday Express.

"If money is made available by the French FA, then anything is possible."

Pires was dropped by Domenech four years ago, with the France coach joking that astrology was behind his decision.

Barcelona striker Henry, however, disagreed with Pires.

"There is a point when things need to be clear. We must end this debate. If the coach is confirmed, then he is confirmed. You can't confirm someone with conditions," Henry said from France's training camp in Paris.

"If things were clear, it would be easier."

The striker, who captained France at the weekend, added that rumours also linking 1998 World Cup winners Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps with the France job were destabilising the squad.

"We played for him [Domenech], for us, for French football," Henry said.

"There is a fury against the coach and it's not easy for us to deal with it, especially when you need to prepare for such important games."

However, the debate surrounding Domenech spurred France to fight back in Romania, Henry added.

France were 2-0 down after 17 minutes but goals by inspirational midfielders Franck Ribery and Yoann Gourcuff earned them a point.

"Yesterday, there was a particular flavour because we knew we had to come back, for him, for us, for everyone," Henry said.

"Let's try and qualify instead of trying to start controversies ahead of important matches.

"We stand by the coach."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

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  1. i think wenger will do good for the french but i dnt­ want him to leave arsenal he is the best maneger­ arsenal has got

    From evansffion, on Tue 14 Oct 5:13PM

  2. Pires is talking senseless stuff, can Wenger leave­ Arsenal even before the season even takes shape?­ NO!
    And if Wenger is to start coaching the french, (if­ that will ever happen) he will need to start digging­ again and again. Coz right now, the french team is­ RUBBISH!!

    From Howard, on Tue 14 Oct 2:01PM

  3. domenech is brainless....he shouldnt still be in charge­ after the euro results...i couldnt even watch the­ french games because his tactics and even his line-up­ were just awful...wenger won't leave just yet so i­ see blanc taking over...hopefully very soon

    From Matt, on Mon 13 Oct 5:45PM

  4. same old story about the french team, after euro2008­ everyone including the 'fool' himself thought­ he would be axed, but not quite, right up til this very­ moment they are still arguing about it, ask henry why­ he still support this fool other than offering him as­ captain? if you are fans, my condolence to you all...

    From Page P, on Mon 13 Oct 11:11AM

  5. hes stayed for too long wenger do u think hes just­ going to leave

    From chicken salad, on Mon 13 Oct 5:54AM

  6. henry is my favourite player he is the best in the­ world, but domenech had to be fired after the euro. you­ can't have the top scorer of the serie A and not­ play him, he hates trezeguet and pires and is the­ reason pires isn't playing. Domenech leaves = pires­ = better manager(not necessarily wenger) = france­ return to the world cup form

    From omar.fahmy24, on Mon 13 Oct 4:53AM

  7. Wenger is not dumb enough to go to a team that is­ empty. There are no more quality players in the Frensh­ team as there are winners in lotto games. Henry is on­ the decline, and many others are either past their­ level or not that good. Ribery is the only exception.­ Basically, what I am saying is that France is back to­ the lat 80's when they had Genola and Cantonna and­ the rest was just @#$%..

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 12 Oct 9:10PM

  8. Wenger has said he is staying. He wouldn't leave­ mid season anyway. I'm sure he would like the job,­ but you think he wants to deal with that idiot puppet­ show Escalettes and the FFF? No way. Deschamps on­ Wednesday!!! Come on FFF, you freaking idiots. Restore­ respectability to France football. and get Nasri back­ in the squad.

    From tom h, on Sun 12 Oct 5:24PM

  9. marcus think about what you are saying. yes Wenger­ loves Arsenal but you are talking about his country.­ I'm sure his love for France overtakes his love for­ Arsenal.

    From football4life, on Sun 12 Oct 3:50PM

  10. Domenech is a joke , but Wenger is Arsenal through and­ through , I'd opt for Laurent Blanc or Didier­ Deschamps.

    From The Northerner, on Sun 12 Oct 3:08PM
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