Former French coach Jacquet hails Spanish

Former French coach Aime Jacquet, who led Les Bleus to the 1998 World Cup, told AFP on Saturday he made Spain his favourites for Euro 2008 as his countrymen in contrast labour to survive.

“Spain are the most dangerous team,” said Jacquet of the Spanish, who started out by thumping Russia 4-1.

“There are two reasons for that: They are finally going to benefit from all the work they put in training their youngsters and they have kept their coach (Luis Aragones, who took over in 2004). That's good work they have been doing,” said Jacquet.

He added that France, on the brink of elimination after losing 4-1 to the Dutch, also had to ensure they planned for the future properly without making knee-jerk decisions such as jettisoning coach Raymond Domenech.

“The coach is always the one who is the most exposed. The decision-makers will decide but I would leave Raymond Domenech. I think when you are preparing a World Cup you need four years and we have a good group in place. It would be a shame if Raymond Domenech, with the set-up he has put together, couldn't stay on through to the World Cup.”

Domenech has been in his post since 2004.