France coach - Raymond Domenech
Yet to replicate the success he enjoyed as Under-21 boss, France coach Raymond Domenech heads to the World Cup in the snipers' cross hairs.
Yet to replicate the success he enjoyed as Under-21 boss, France coach Raymond Domenech heads to the World Cup in the snipers' cross hairs.
France were lacklustre in qualifying, and have also looked unconvincing in friendlies, leaving Domenech with a job on his hands to get the critics onside.
As a player, Domenech was a reliable defensive midfielder, who won eight caps for the national team.
His first was in May 1973 against Republic of Ireland, while the last of his eight appearances arrived six years later against the United States.
At club level, Domenech started out with Lyon before signing for Strasbourg in 1977, with whom he won the French title in 1979.
He spent a season with Paris Saint Germain, prior to joining Bordeaux, where he ended his time at the club with a second French championship medal in 1984.
Domenech then joined Mulhouse, and became the club's player/coach in 1985, a role he held for three years.
In 1988, Domenech returned to Lyon as coach and won the second division title during his first season at the helm.
After five years in charge, Domenech joined the French national coaching setup and became Under-21 boss - a post he stayed in for 11 years.
He won the Toulon tournament in 1997 and was interested in replacing Roger Lemerre as national team coach after the 2002 World Cup.
The selectors plumped for Jacques Santini, but his exit after Euro 2004 provided Domenech with a second chance for the top job.
Domenech finished as Under-21 boss with another success in the Toulon tournament, but he has yet to translate that to the senior team.
Though France were unbeaten in the qualifiers, Les Bleus drew three home games 0-0 and Domenech now has the task of moulding a team capable of repeating France's 1998 World Cup triumph.
