Dunne blast for Domenech

IN what amounts to a full-blooded verbal tackle, Richard Dunne has pinpointed under-fire manager Raymond Domenech as a weak link in the French set up.

Speaking in Malahide yesterday, the Aston Villa centre-half said:

“I think over the last World Cups and Euros, things have not run smoothly for France, but they’ve always got through and maybe it’s time we put a stop to that. And we know if we can get in front, that they probably have not got the man at the top to pull them back round.

“Every time a tournament comes round, they’ve all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing them up. Even watching Sky Sports today, you can see the reaction of the people at the tennis (the Paris Masters, attended by Domenech and his squad) when they put his face on the big screen – the whole place just booed him and his own players laughed at him.”

After the draw for the play-offs, it was widely reported that Domenech has described Ireland as “England B”, although French sources have since clarified that the word he used – “bis” – actually means “similar to” and not “lesser than”.

Either way, while Dunne said he had not heard about the alleged remark, he added that he wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what the Domenech had said.

Giovanni Trapattoni, however, was much more diplomatic when asked about his French counterpart.

“I saw Domenech in the San Siro last week (at the Milan-Real Madrid Champions League game),” he said. “I am sure he has respect for us.” Asked about the French manager’s alleged habit of using astrology in assessing players, Trapattoni replied: “In the past, there were many colleagues who asked tarot readers but I’m a believer and I believe in other things. I don’t choose players like this. Each of us has their own habits, I’ve mine and he has his.”

Much of the questioning on the part of the French media present in Malahide yesterday focussed on the embattled national manager and the perceived inadequacies of his team but Trapattoni was not inclined to help them with their inquiries.

“I have my problems,” he smiled. “I cannot look also at the other problems. Football is football. Domenech knows the medicine he needs. I look after my own sick people.”

The manager also said that he hoped a deal would be done to show the Paris leg of the play-off on Irish television.

“Football is not sport, no more,” he said. “It’s all about money and sponsors. For us, it’s a pity. I think our supporters deserve to see the game on the television.”