Domenech hits out at media spying after Ribery riddle

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech has launched a blistering attack on the country’s media for spying on a closed training session.

Reports in the French media, based on information gleaned from a session that was off limits to the media in Aerzen, suggested — correctly it later emerged — that 23-year-old Franck Ribery and Sylvain Wiltord could start today’s World Cup opener against Switzerland.

Domenech did not confirm the truth or otherwise of the reports but made it clear that he took a dim view of such activity.

“I try and modify things to take all possibilities into account,” Domenech told a press conference at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium.

“I find it hard that someone who wants a scoop spies on us like this in what was supposed to be a closed session. I think that regarding the team and the people of France that’s a pity, I am sorry to have to say that.

“Spying like that when we are trying to do our work is not good. It would be normal if the Swiss did that but for our own media to do it, I have to say that I find that a pity.”

A war between the France team and the media is nothing new and the build-up to the 1998 campaign was notable for a running feud between coach Aime Jacquet and L’Equipe, the French sports daily. When France won the World Cup, Jacquet lambasted the paper in his post-match press conference, declaring he would never forgive the newspaper for its treatment of him and the team.

Zinedine Zidane pointed out that the relations between media and team had been poor in 1998, and he said: “There are always these things. There are things you see that are disagreeable and that is what happened in 1998.

“I hope we will have the same result.”

Domenech later confirmed the starting line-up that will face Switzerland, and as expected, Franck Ribery will make his first start for Les Bleus in one of three attacking midfielders alongside Zinedine Zidane and Sylvain Wiltord behind lone striker Thierry Henry.

Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele will play in defensive midfield roles while full-backs Willy Sagnol and Eric Abidal will play alongside central defenders Lilian Thuram and William Gallas in front of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Zinedine Zidane will quit football at the end of the World Cup but the three-times FIFA World Player of the Year has identified Ribery as the man who could replace him in the affections of France supporters.

Zidane claimed he had not made any particular move to help along the youngster who was uncapped when Domenech named his 23-man squad but has played as a substitute in three friendlies since.

“I have not particularly taken him under my wing,” said Zidane. “Everyone has accepted him and he has fitted in well.

“The fact that we have things in common has not entered into it,” said Zidane of Ribery who plays for Zidane’s hometown club Marseille and converted to Islam when he married his Muslim wife.