Dunne criticises Domenech

Richard Dunne has launched a scathing attack on France manager Raymond Domenech insisting he is 'messing up' the national team.

The Republic of Ireland meet France in Dublin on Saturday for the first-leg of their World Cup play-off clash with the return in Paris four days later.

Despite leading France to the World Cup final in 2006 Domenech has come in for stinging criticism in his homeland after a dismal Euro 2008, France failed to get out of their group and obtained just one point,

That was followed up by a poor World Cup qualifying campaign where they finished second behind Serbia to increase the pressure on Domenech.

Domenech's popularity hit an all time low this week when he took his squad to the tennis at the Paris Open only for fans to begin booing him when his face was shown on the giant screen.

"Every time a tournament comes round [France] have all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing up," Dunne said.

"Over the last World Cups and European Championships, things have not run smoothly for France, they've always got through but maybe it's the time that we put a stop to that.

"And we know that if we can get in front, they probably have not got the man at the top to pull them around.

"[Domenech's management] could be a weakness or it could be a big smokescreen. France have played really well in their last few games. But if we can get on top of them and try to turn the game into a battle, we feel we have the stronger personalities.

"You can see the reaction of the people at the tennis, when they put his face on the big screen. The whole place just booed him and his own players laughed at him."