SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 French are determined to do well says coach Raymond Domenech

Record ID: 452391

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 French are determined to do well says coach Raymond Domenech
  • Date: 11th June 2010
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 10, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH COACH RAYMOND DOMENECH SAYING: "I feel they are determined, even a bit aggressive and very impatient." FRANCE COACH RAYMOND DOMENECH AND CAPTAIN PATRICE EVRA (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH DEFENDER AND CAPTAIN PATRICE EVRA SAYING: "But, I have confidence in myself and my quality, and that's what makes the difference - it's very much with my mentality that I built my career." DOMENECH AND EVRA END OF PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABQWESLQTN88GSY33SAV0JHQWA
  • Story Text: France are both determined and aggressive before kicking off their campaign against Uruguay, coach Raymond Domenech said on Thursday (June 10).
    The former world champions, who have done nothing to suggest they could make an impact at the finals, owe their presence in South Africa to a controversial playoff win over Ireland featuring Thierry Henry's infamous handball.
    Asked how his players, who slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat by China in their final warm-up game, felt before facing Uruguay and their danger man Diego Forlan, Domenech did not sound a bit worried.
    "I feel they are determined, even a bit aggressive and very impatient," the 58-year-old told a packed news conference at Cape Town's Green Point stadium, the venue for his side's Group A opener on Friday (June 11).
    Domenech, maybe feeling he has little to lose with many observers predicting another early exit, has experimented during his side's three warm-up games, leaving the talismanic Henry on the bench and handing over the armband to Patrice Evra.
    Left back Evra, sitting next to his coach at the pre-match news conference, also looked in a hurry to leave the room.
    "But, I have confidence in myself and my quality, and that's what makes the difference - it's very much with my mentality that I built my career," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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