Domenech reason for fiasco: Gallas
Thursday, 8 July 2010
PARIS, July 7 (AFP): The blame for France's catastrophic World Cup finals campaign should be laid at the door of former coach Raymond Domenech, said veteran defender William Gallas Wednesday.
The 32-year-old - who is looking for a new club as he is a free agent with his contract having run out at Premier League giants Arsenal - told weekly publication Les Inrockuptibles that he had also been distraught when Domenech had awarded the captaincy to Patrice Evra for the finals.
"If it was a fiasco, then there are reasons for it," said Gallas, who played in all three of France's group matches resulting in two defeats to Mexico and hosts South Africa and a draw with eventual semi-finalists Uruguay.
"And for me there is no need to draw a veil over why: they emanated from the coach.
"The real problem is the coach. Okay I wasn't good, we weren't good. But the coach wasn't up to scratch either. I was appalled that we didn't play with two strikers.
"Even the training sessions weren't up to the level required. You can have the best players in the world in your team, but if you don't have the coach you need, then the results will not be achieved."
Gallas, who under Domenech was part of the team that reached the 2006 World Cup final only to lose on penalties to Italy, revealed striker Nicolas Anelka's foulmouthed outburst at Domenech delivered at half-time of the match with Mexico was bound to happen as it had been festering for a while.
The 32-year-old - who is looking for a new club as he is a free agent with his contract having run out at Premier League giants Arsenal - told weekly publication Les Inrockuptibles that he had also been distraught when Domenech had awarded the captaincy to Patrice Evra for the finals.
"If it was a fiasco, then there are reasons for it," said Gallas, who played in all three of France's group matches resulting in two defeats to Mexico and hosts South Africa and a draw with eventual semi-finalists Uruguay.
"And for me there is no need to draw a veil over why: they emanated from the coach.
"The real problem is the coach. Okay I wasn't good, we weren't good. But the coach wasn't up to scratch either. I was appalled that we didn't play with two strikers.
"Even the training sessions weren't up to the level required. You can have the best players in the world in your team, but if you don't have the coach you need, then the results will not be achieved."
Gallas, who under Domenech was part of the team that reached the 2006 World Cup final only to lose on penalties to Italy, revealed striker Nicolas Anelka's foulmouthed outburst at Domenech delivered at half-time of the match with Mexico was bound to happen as it had been festering for a while.