France

France have drawn one and lost one so far, and so must beat hosts South Africa on Tuesday to stand any chance of making it into the last 16 at the World Cup.

Domenech’s team selection will be extremely interesting in Bloemfontein amid reports of a bust-up with Nicolas Anelka and the fact Thierry Henry has played just 20 minutes.

The France coach did restore Florent Malouda to his XI against Mexico but it did not go to plan, while Anelka was hauled off at half-time with the French media now claiming he was involved in an angry exchange with Domenech following criticism of the Chelsea striker’s recent performances.

But for now the outgoing France boss is just concerned with his side’s showdown with Bafana Bafana rather than worry about the outcome of the other group game which will kick off simultaneously.

He said: “I am not bothered about the others.

“We have to play and do our thing and the other match is not my problem.”

Domenech will leave his post when France exit the World Cup “whenever that may be”, with legendary defender Laurent Blanc already confirmed as his successor after six years in the hot seat.

Meanwhile, Uruguay defender Diego Godin insists La Celeste have every intention of beating Mexico which would be a massive help to the French cause (Uruguay 16/5 to win their last group game).

Ahead of the clash with El Tri, Villarreal star Godin claimed: “Our only thoughts are on Mexico and how to control possession, create goalscoring opportunities and finish them off.

“We have not conceded a goal so far and that is very important.

“If we do the same against Mexico, then we will have progressed to the next round and anything can happen from then on.”

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The 1998 World Cup winner, capped 107 times in an outstanding career, was left off coach Raymond Domenech’s provisional 30-man squad for South Africa.

He was one of three high-profile omissions from the squad, along with Arsenal’s Sami Nasri and Karim Benzema of Real Madrid.

And while he took the decision on the chin, he was not happy about the manner in which it was conducted.

“His (Domenech) choice I do accept,” said Vieira, who won the Euro 2000 title with France and played in the final four years ago which Les Bleus lost to Italy.

“The only problem is with regard to our personal relations. I was expecting more openness, more contact on his behalf.
“With Raymond I enjoyed healthy relations. But to learn of my non-selection like that, well that is lacking intact, class. It saddens me.

“There are coaches who know how to handle these things, and others who don’t.”

Vieira was referring to the fact that Domenech had not telephoned him to inform him of his decision, leaving the player to find out live on TV.

“I have not had him on the phone for the past six months,” said Vieira. “I always had good relations with him even when he was in difficulties. What I really would have appreciated, given the number of caps I won for my country, was that he had called me and said ‘Listen, I believe that you no longer have the necessary qualities for international football.

“I would have understood and accepted that, though I still believe that I am capable of playing at that level.”

Vieira, who moved from Inter Milan to Manchester City in the January transfer window and has played 14 times for the Premier League club, accepts that his international career is now over. But he insists he will continue playing at the top level in his club career.

“It is over. I will not have another chance to play in a big tournament,” said Vieira.
“For me, the French chapter is finished. That does not mean it erases all the great years I spent donning the blue shirt of France.

“On the club side, no is the answer to whether I will retire from that as well. I will, for sure, be carrying on at club level.”

Vieira’s omission from the squad leaves Thierry Henry as the sole survivor of France’s 1998 triumph over Brazil.

Benzema has had an inconsistent season with Madrid, though a pole taken shortly after the squad decision was announced suggested that more fans were upset with him being left out than Vieira’s axing.

Nasri’s Arsenal teammates Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Abou Diaby and Bacary Sagna are included.

Three members of Marseille’s Ligue 1-winning squad – goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and forward Hatem Ben Arfa and Mathieu Valbuena – are named, as are two Chelsea stars, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda.

France (evens to qualify from Group A) will play in Group A of the tournament, alongside hosts South Africa (6/1), Mexico (3/1) and Uruguay (7/2), who will be their opponents in their first game in Cape Town on June 11.

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