U21 boss gets backing for France job

France Under-21 boss Raymond Domenech has emerged as a leading candidate in the three-horse race to succeed Jacques Santini as France head coach after a late intervention on his behalf by Aime Jacquet.

Jacquet, who led France to the World Cup title in 1998, is still highly influential within the French Football Federation where he is head of coaching, and has anointed Domenech as his preferred candidate ahead of the other two contenders, Jean Tigana and Laurent Blanc.