Gallas gives under-fire Domenech full backing - press
Time is GMT + 8 hours Posted: 8-Oct-2008 23:02 hrs
William Gallas said that the French squad are fully behind under-scrutiny national coach Raymond Domenech, seen here in August 2008, ahead of this weekend's World Cup qualifier.
The French squad are fully behind under-scrutiny national coach Raymond Domenech ahead of this weekend's World Cup qualifier, William Gallas said on Wednesday.
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Speaking from the team's training camp outside Paris, the Arsenal player gave the 56-year-old coach a ringing endorsement.
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"We are behind the coach. We have started with him and we will end with him," the defender told L'Equipe.
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"He knows the pressure is on him now, and he needs results."
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On Saturday Les Bleus face Romania in the third 2010 qualifier, in what is seen by many as a must-win match for Domenech, whose team sit second bottom of Group 7.
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There have been renewed calls for Domenech to stand down since his side's catastrophic opening defeat at Austria, but a strong 2-1 win over Serbia four days later gave the coach a much-needed lifeline.
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A good victory over Romania is all the more crucial as Domenech's bosses will meet four days later to decide whether to keep or sack him.
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Gallas said: "Yes, we will make an assessment after Romania, but why not make an assessment after the first two games?"
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The former Chelsea player said there was no point in changing the coach midway through the qualifying stages.
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"If we change will it be better? Who can be sure of it? Nobody. I'm for continuity. You start with someone and you stay with them until the end.
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"If we don't get to the World Cup, I agree, you change. But not before."
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Questioned about France's dismal Euro 2008 championship, where they went out in the first round after scoring only one goal, the 31-year-old said: "It is not easy to stay in the limelight when the team lose.
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"During the Euro it didn't go very well ... now we are on a new adventure."
