SPORTS> Off the Pitch
France cheered on by 9,000 at training session
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-07 10:28
An estimated 9,000 fans gathered at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium on Tuesday to cheer World Cup finalists France in a rare public training session.

The support was an indication the fans are behind the team again after whistles and boos from the Stade de France crowd during a laboured 1-0 friendly win over Mexico last month.

The crowd were also supportive when France beat Denmark 2-0 in Lens on May 31.

France have been criticised for regularly training behind closed doors.

There were a few jeers on Tuesday for coach Raymond Domenech, who once played for and coached St Etienne's arch rivals Olympique Lyon, but the crowd applauded him when he moved towards them.

"I had no doubts coming here that the people would be behind us and I had no doubts either before we went to Lens," Domenech told reporters.

"People in those two cities really love football."

France will play China here in a final warm-up game on Wednesday before flying to Germany on Thursday.

The 1998 champions begin their World Cup challenge against Switzerland in Stuttgart on June 13. Their other Group G opponents are South Korea and Togo.