Domenech opts for midfield experiment

FRANCE’S coach Raymond Domenech has opted for an experimental midfield to take on the Republic of Ireland in tomorrow’s World Cup Group 4 qualifier at the Stade de France.

Forced to do without his suspended captain Patrick Vieira and the injured Benoit Pedretti, Domenech has selected the inexperienced Rio Mavuba and Olivier Dacourt in the defensive midfield positions.

Bordeaux’s Mavuba earned his first cap for France in the 1-1 draw against Bosnia in August, while Dacourt last played for Les Bleus in the 1-0 defeat to Greece at Euro 2004 in June.

Vieira is serving a one-match suspension after he was sent off in the 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands last month, while Marseille’s Pedretti is out for three weeks with a thigh injury.

Olympique Lyon’s Sylvain Wiltord is recalled to play as an attacking midfielder after being absent from France’s last three outings.

Wiltord will share the playmaking with Robert Pires while Thierry Henry will partner Djibril Cisse up front.

Meanwhile Spain coach Luis Aragones has apologised for the offence caused by the language he used to describe French striker Thierry Henry but said his conscience was clear over accusations of racism.

Aragones was sharply criticised after being picked up by TV microphones trying to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes by telling him he was better than “that black shit”, in reference to the striker’s Arsenal colleague Henry.

“In the first place I want to clarify that I never intended to offend anyone, and for that reason I have a very easy conscience,” the 66-year-old Aragones said last night.

“Secondly, what I said can only be understood in the context of the team and a training session, in which I am obliged to motivate my players to get the best results.

“As part of that job, I use colloquial language, with which we can all understand each other within the framework of the football world.

“Finally, and understanding the importance that the post of national coach has, I can only apologise to the people who may have been offended, reiterating that it was never my intention to belittle anyone because, amongst other things, I would be doing as much to many of my friends.”

Henry's Arsenal colleague, Robert Pires condemned Aragones for his alleged racist outburst and insisted he may even deserve to face legal action.

Arsenal team-mate, Sol Campbell, said: “There aren’t too many excuses but until you know the full facts of what really went on, you can’t comment.

“Certain words can mean different things in other languages. But it’s happened before with TV pundits or whatever. Over here, people take a hard stance on it and there’s no room for racism.”

Reyes also tried to play the incident down: “I know when he is joking and when he isn’t. He was shouting and also speaking to me in a low voice, so I can tell you he was joking.”

FRANCE (V IRELAND): Barthez (Marseille); Gallas (Chelsea), Givet (Monaco), Squillaci (Monaco), Silvestre (Man Utd); Dacourt (Roma), Mavuba (Bordeaux), Pires (Arsenal), Wiltord (Lyon), Henry (Arsenal), Cisse (Liverpool).