By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 20 – Alas Poor Raymond…Just after the World Cup began, a headline in one of the South African supplements read, “Everybody Hates Raymond”.
A trifle harsh on the avuncular Raymond Domenech? Not now, not after the kind of capitulation his star-studded team suffered against the Mexicans and the dressing-room spat that followed, culminating in Nicolas Anelka being sensationally sent home.
Few sections of the media anywhere in world football have ganged up on their national coach with quite as much vilification as France’s football journalists and commentators.
Remember the Sun newspaper’s depiction of Graham Taylor as a turnip after England were eliminated at Euro 92 after losing to Sweden? Remember, long before that, how Bobby Robson was equally vilified despite being the most successful English manager since Alf Ramsey.
Now you can put Domenech firmly in that category.
Twenty-fours after the night before, the attacks on Domenech reached new heights back home. “Let’s mock Raymond Domenech, so full of himself, overcome by his players’ egos,” said L’Equipe.
“Laugh about these major players Franck Ribery, William Gallas, Nicolas Anelka, who believe themselves so superior, and their arrogance - supported by a federation who should wear a headless chicken as a symbol.”
Casual observers might well ask what the fuss is all about?
Domenech, after all, led his country to the final of the World Cup four years ago, the pinnacle - apart from actually winning it - of any coach’s ambitions, falling short of the ultimate prize through the lottery of penalties.
This was a man, too, who had lost only 11 of 74 games coming into the tournament and the only person to steer France to three consecutive major finals.
But this was also a man who had never won anything, whose bookish appearance, love of the theatre and intellectual style never caught on with the public, whose passion for astrology was allegedly one reason that Robert Pires, being a Scorpio, was treated with such suspicion.
And they weren’t the only reasons Domenech fell out so spectacularly with the media and some of his players to boot.
His soft-spoken, almost superior way of answering questions was anathema to grass-roots fans who turned on the coach with such venom that he had been known to turn up to games in disguise.
After France’s shock exit at Euro 2008, Domenech hardly enhanced his reputation.
Asked about his future, he replied merely than his only plan was to get married.
He later explained: “It was just a thought.
“Everyone was so sad and I thought to myself, life has its beautiful moments.
“You have to tell people you love them.”
Many observers might empathise with such comments; that there is more to life than football.
Others were not so accommodating, with former players queueing up to argue that that Domenech had finally lost the plot and had become a figure of fun who simply had to be replaced.
Soon he will be, with Laurent Blanc taking over at the end of the tournament.
A players’ player, a champion on the field, a man to restore pride and glory to French football, so badly tarnished by the Anelka (pictured) scandal.
Before that happens, France have another game to play here.
Domenech, whose punchless team rarely looked up for looked up for the fight against Mexico, face a second successive swift tournament exit unless they beat South Africa comfortably in their final group game.
But will the players actually turn up?
Maybe not given the remarkable events of the past 48 hours.
France’s players refused to train today following Nicolas Anelka’s sensational expulsion from the squad for verbally abusing Domenech.
The French Football Federation’s managing director also quit after Domenech had to separate captain Patrice Evra from fitness coach Robert Duverne in the mother of all bust-ups.
As footballing scandals go, you can’t get much bigger than the Anelka story.
The Chelsea striker apparently would have been retained had he apologised to Domenech for what was a foul-mouth tirade.
As FFF vice-president Christian Teinturier said: “We’re in another world here.
“French football is in a catastrophic situation.”
Maybe, just maybe, it was written in those stars in which Domenech so passionately believes.
France, as well as their under-fire coach, came into the tournament as the team every loved to hate following the Hand of Henry that broke all Irish hearts in the playoffs.
With their siege mentality, they had a great chance to redeem themselves.
Instead Les Blues have turned colour with alarming alacrity, becoming a red-faced international laughing stock.
And for Domenech, no turning back…
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734780846labto1734780846ofdlr1734780846owedi1734780846sni@w1734780846ahsra1734780846w.wer1734780846dna1734780846