France coach Raymond Domenech has received the usually-poisoned chalice of a vote of confidence from the French Football Federation (FFF) president on Monday on the eve of their do or die Euro 2008 clash with Italy.
The 56-year-old has a contract that runs till 2010 and Jean-Pierre Escalettes told Le Monde on Monday that he would support him till the end, though, he added rather menacingly that other things might come into play which could change the scenario.
France have to beat Italy to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals — a result which would be rendered superfluous should Romania beat group winners Holland — and many pundits have been pushing for a change of coach, including World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps.
“Of course, it is easier to do this debriefing after a victorious campaign,” said Escalettes, referring to the future of Domenech should they be eliminated at the group stage.
“But as far as I am concerned, I will support Domenech to the last. We are, if you like, a tandem. I am not a disloyal man, I will not utter those words 'Raymond, resign'.
“I am for him staying till 2010.
“But it is also true that other things may come into play which will have to be taken into consideration.”
Deschamps, who also led France to the Euro 2000 title, for his part also wrote in Le Monde that he would be honoured to be France coach.
“It would be for me a sense of great pride to become one day the coach of France,” said Deschamps, who has already established himself as one of the brighter younger coaches having taken Monaco to an unlikely place in the 2004 Champions League final.
“But this question should not be addressed, on the eve of such an important match for France,” added Deschamps, who also took Juventus back to Serie A after they had been relegated in 2006 for their role in the matchfixing scandal which rocked Italian football.
