Domenech 'neutral' after World Cup draw

Raymond Domenech was not getting carried away after seeing his France side placed in a favourable group in the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw.

Les Bleus will come against Romania, Serbia, Austria, Lithuania and the Faroe Islands in Group 7.

The French, World Cup winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006, had Lithuania and the Faroes in their Euro 2008 qualifying group, and they may come up against Romania and Austria in the tournament proper next summer.

“I am neither happy nor disappointed – all in all, I am neutral,” said Domenech, who was not present at the draw that took place in Durban.

“There are several teams here that we know well. We will come up against Romania and Austria, teams who will play in Euro 2008.

“We will have to beat them and that will not be easy. We will be careful. During the Euro 2008 qualifiers, we saw that it wasn’t easy to get something in Lithuania (France won 1-0 away) or even get to the Faroe Islands!

“We will also have to go to Serbia. Their team was at the last World Cup but I don’t want to compare 2006 and 2010. We will have a chance to study this team and watch their matches before going over there.”