It’s the eve of match day and there’s a sense from Giovanni Trapattoni that there’s not a lot more he can do now to prepare his players for one of the biggest games of their lives.

FORMER French manager Raymond Domenech has claimed he was almost became Republic of Ireland manager in 2003.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka does not miss international football and insists he has no plans to come out of retirement for Euro 2012 once he completes his 18-match ban.

French sports minister Chantal Jouanno has blamed her country’s infamous implosion at last year’s World Cup on a “problem of governance” and admits the wounds from South Africa have not yet healed.

EX-FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has branded members of the national team “foolhardy brats” after speaking out for the first time about the World Cup debacle.

Former France coach Raymond Domenech has branded members of the national team as "foolhardy brats" after speaking out for the first time about the World Cup debacle.

UEFA president Michel Platini believes the French players responsible for the World Cup fiasco should have been handed lifetime suspensions.

Nicolas Anelka, the man at the centre of the France World Cup boycott, says he was planning to quit the national team even before their troubled tournament in South Africa in June.

Raymond Domenech’s lawyer has confirmed his client will seek a compensation payment of €2.9m from the French Football Federation after his exit as national team coach.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Laurent Blanc has been “brave” to take on the task of coaching France so early in his career.

Former France team doctor Jean-Pierre Paclet has defended Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka’s role in Les Bleus’ World Cup meltdown.

NICOLAS ANELKA has broken his silence on the fiasco of France’s World Cup and claimed he should not have been made the scapegoat for the team’s failings as it was his goal against Ireland in the qualifying play-off that helped Les Bleus reach South Africa.

Nicolas Anelka admits his “head was gone” during the infamous row with Raymond Domenech which led to him being sent home from the World Cup, but denied swearing at his former national team boss.

France’s Minister for Health and Sports Roselyne Bachelot has renewed her opposition to the continued selection of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema in the national team.

New France coach Laurent Blanc insists he will walk away if he feels he has failed in his mission, but has urged France fans to realise he is “not a magician”.

NEW France coach Laurent Blanc will be forced to explore his options for next month’s friendly against Norway after suspending all 23 players involved in this summer’s dismal World Cup campaign.

New France coach Laurent Blanc has taken the decision to suspend the entire 23-man squad which took part in this summer’s failed World Cup campaign for next month’s friendly against Norway.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has admitted the decision of the France squad to strike during the World Cup was “completely stupid”.

French footballers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema were held for questioning by police today as part of an investigation into an alleged prostitution ring.

Thierry Henry has confirmed his retirement from international football with France after completing his move from Barcelona to the New York Red Bulls.

MARCEL DESAILLY has called for France captain Patrice Evra to be suspended for at least two months for his part in Les Bleus’ controversial World Cup campaign.

WILLIAM GALLAS has laid the blame for France’s World Cup implosion at the feet of former coach Raymond Domenech.

William Gallas has laid the blame for France’s World Cup implosion at the feet of former coach Raymond Domenech.

Laurent Blanc has expressed his pride after being unveiled as France coach this morning.

Nicolas Anelka should never play for Les Bleus again, according to outgoing French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

THE French Football Federation plan to elect a replacement on an interim basis for departing president Jean-Pierre Escalettes on July 23.

POLITICIANS involved in yesterday’s closed-door hearing about France’s World Cup fiasco grumbled that Raymond Domenech refused to take any responsibility for his team’s misbehaviour and offered no explanations.

A THREAT by FIFA yesterday to ban France’s national and club teams from international competition if the government did not stay out of soccer affairs failed to stop political debate over France’s World Cup debacle.

FRENCH Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes has shouldered the blame for a disastrous World Cup campaign after confirming he will resign from his post.

LAST winter, I was sitting on the terrace of a restaurant where the big wigs of the French FA regularly draw on their expense accounts to lunch in some style.

THIERRY HENRY admitted he felt “isolated” in the French squad and spoke of a “sickness” at the heart of the World Cup camp.

France veteran Thierry Henry has today said that he felt “isolated” in the French World Cup squad and spoke of a “sickness” at the heart of the training camp.

PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy last night called for a wholesale review of French football following the national team’s humiliation in the World Cup, and said no player should receive bonuses after their dire showing.

The French press have been predictably scathing today following Les Bleus’ humiliating first-round exit at the World Cup.

THE World Cup isn’t just about winning – especially not for Ireland supporters who yesterday witnessed a just end to France’s tour de farce.

FRANCE exited the World Cup at the first-round stage with barely a whimper after this humbling defeat by the host nation at the Free State Stadium.

France coach Raymond Domenech expressed his sadness as his tenure ended with his squabbling side making an early exit from the World Cup.

France 1 South Africa 2

France 0 South Africa 2

France captain Patrice Evra and Florent Malouda were both banished to the bench for the vital Group A game against South Africa at the Free State Stadium.

Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot has told France's World Cup players they are no longer heroes in the eyes of children.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech insisted last night the decision to send Nicolas Anelka home was the correct one.

FRANCE’S chaotic World Cup campaign went into meltdown yesterday after the players mutinied over the treatment of Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home in disgrace following a row with coach Raymond Domenech.

France’s chaotic World Cup campaign is in disarray after the players boycotted training in support of Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home yesterday for a row with coach Raymond Domenech.