Unpopular Domenech stays on

Updated 08.31 Fri Jul 04 2008

Keywords: Platini, Ribery, Vieira, foorball, French Football Federation, Euro 2008, Euros, coach, France, Raymond Domenech

Raymond Domenech will remain France coach despite the team's woeful performance at Euro 2008.

French Football Federation (FFF) President Jean-Pierre Escalettes told a news conference that Domenech stays "with a new definition of the conditions of his duty and of selection matters."

The 56-year-old Domenech came under heavy criticism after France were eliminated from the European Championship, managing just one point and one goal from three group matches

He said: "It is not too late for us, the leaders of French football, to offer our apologies to the supporters of the French team, to the public and to all those who we believed we could allow to dream.

"I am saying this as vice president of the federation that it is not too late to do this.

"The results were poor, a disappointing performance, a frustrating organisation notably for the supporters, a negative image."

The 56-year-old Domenech came under heavy criticism after France were eliminated from the European Championship, managing just one point and one goal from three group matches.

After hearing Domenech's explanations, however, 18 of the 19 FFF council's voters ruled he should stay on under certain conditions which were not specified.

Captain Patrick Vieira, midfielder Franck Ribery and all-time great Michel Platini, now the UEFA President, had all said Domenech should remain in charge.

Others, starting with several members of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, among them Zinedine Zidane, had spoken out in favour of former France captain Didier Deschamps taking over the reigns.

Domenech, who took over in the wake of France's quarter-final exit from Euro 2004 and guided the team to the 2006 World Cup final, has a contract until the 2010 World Cup finals.

The coach, who failed to find the right mix between ageing stalwarts and untested newcomers at Euro 2008, was also criticised for keeping midfielder Vieira in his squad despite a thigh injury that meant the captain did not play at all.

A tough defender in his playing days, Domenech has had a difficult relationship with some players and the media.

Opinion polls released over the past few days showed a majority of French people wanted him to leave.