Vieira blasts Domenech

Veteran upset not to be informed personally about WC omission

By Patrick Haond   Last updated: 12th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Vieira blasts Domenech

Vieira: Page turned on France career

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Patrick Vieira has hit out at national boss Raymond Domenech after he missed out on inclusion in France's World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old moved to Manchester City in January in an attempt to get the nod from Domenech, but found out on Tuesday that was not the case.

While the World Cup winner respects Domenech's right to have omitted him, he wishes the coach had informed him personally that he was not going to a fourth finals.

Vieira told Canal + Sport: "Participating in a fourth World Cup was a very beautiful challenge to me.

"As the national team coach had sporting criterions, I can accept the decision without any problems.

"However, I didn't receive any phone call with him for six months, even if I always had a good relationship with him, even when he was in trouble.

"Considering my number of caps (107 caps) and years in the French team, I would have liked more frankness, a phone call.

Turned page

"Now I have turned the French team's page. I would have preferred him to tell me, 'You don't have the right level anymore, there are young players better than you,.

"Mourinho did it at Inter, and I accepted it.

"Discovering it at the last moment, in front of the TV, that tactlessness, lack of class, which is what affected me the most.

"But that won't erase all the beautiful years I spent in blue. Will I finish my career? No. I am sure I won't stop my footballing career."

In a press conference announcing the squad, Domenech confirmed it had been a very difficult decision to leave out Vieira.

He said: "Patrick Vieira, it is the most delicate choice. We talked with Pat, we tried to plan for the World Cup.

"It has been a wrench. It is a real moment of emotion. It was difficult considering the whole season."

Gallas hope

Arsenal defender William Gallas has been included in the provisional squad, despite missing out on the end of the Gunners' season with a calf injury.

Although the latest medical examinations have been quite reassuring, Domenech wants the Arsenal defender to now prove his fitness - otherwise he will not make his final squad.

He added: "We have been following the situation with William for a while. He is part of the uncertainties that made us choose a bigger list of players. He is in a rehabilitation period, there is no guarantee (that he will be fit to play).

"He will resume a little earlier with our fitness coach. Either he will be available and he will participate in everything, or he is not available and he will go back home."