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World Cup 2010: French Disconnection

Written by 
Shawn Young
Published on May 3, 2010

2006 finalists France appear to be imploding before a ball is kicked at this World Cup. The team is already reeling from a scandal involving underage prostitutes. Defenders are injured. Now, in an unrelated matter, unpopular coach Raymond Domenech might not get past the airport metal detectors for the flight to South Africa because there are so many knives in his back.

Last week, Michel Platini said Domenech had to go. This was surprising not because Platini is a former soccer surperstar and France manager in everyone's rolodex as a quotable guy who has an opinion. Rather it was a shocker because in his current job, he's supposed to keep negative opinions to himself. Platini is president of European soccer federation UEFA, and, like the leaders of FIFA, the IOC, the UN, and so on, Platini's official line is supposed to be "Hooray for Everybody!"

On Monday, France's football federation, the FFF, confirmed to French media that Laurent Blanc has been offered the job after Domenech goes. Blanc still has a year left on his contract at Bordeaux. Bordeaux are grumpy; the club is chasing a Champions' League spot for next season with three rounds to go, and would like the coach to concentrate on the task at hand.

So now the media asks the natural question: instead of replacing Domenech after the World Cup, why not have Blanc step in beforehand? The team will have three full weeks to prepare, so Blanc can pick his players and will have plenty of time to install his playing system.

Is this going to happen? I'd like to channel my Inner Frenchman here if I may, hold out my hands, look at you earnestly, and shrug my shoulders. I have no contacts inside the FFF, so I have no clue.

What I'm sure of is this: it's one more distraction for a French team that mightn't even be in the tournament but for the Hand of Fraud goal that pushed France past Ireland in last year's playoff. France's preliminary group at World Cup 2010 looks easy, but the way things are going, France appears to be doing everything it can to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.