Raymond Domenech will stay on
as coach after leading France to the World Cup final, according to the French
Football Federation (FFF).
Domenech, who took over from Jacques Santini
after Euro 2004, was offered an extension to his two-year contract and he
accepted it, the FFF said on their website.
"Taking into account the excellent performance of France during the World
Cup, the federal committee unanimously offered Raymond Domenech the chance to
carry on his mission as national coach," a statement said.
France lost Sunday's World Cup final to Italy on penalties and start their
qualifying programme for Euro 2008 in September.
"I'm proud of this team and I'm proud of Raymond Domenech," federation
chairman Jean-Pierre Escalettes told a news conference.
"Many of our dreams came true (during the World Cup). The players honoured
the blue shirt with their commitment."
The contract details of the extension will be discussed between Escalettes
and Domenech before the next meeting of the FFF's board.
The French play a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo on August
16.
They will start their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a game in Georgia on
Sept. 2 before they host the Italians at the Stade de France four days later.
MAIN CHALLENGES
One of the main challenges facing Domenech during his second term is to find
replacements for Zinedine Zidane, influential defender Lilian Thuram and
tireless midfielder Claude Makelele.
Thuram and Makelele have decided to retire from international soccer while
playmaker Zidane, sent off for a head-butt in extra time against Italy, played
his last match on Sunday.
The French coach can bank on Olympique Lyon's Florent Malouda and Eric
Abidal, and winger Franck Ribery who emerged as undisputable first choices
during the tournament in Germany.
Defenders William Gallas and Willy Sagnol were also key members of the squad
while Patrick Vieira should take over from Zidane as captain.
As a player, the 54-year-old Domenech wore the colours of Olympique Lyon,
Strasbourg, Paris St Germain, Bordeaux and Mulhouse between 1970 and 1988.
He helped Strasbourg to the league title in 1979 and Bordeaux in 1984, and
won the French Cup with Lyon in 1973.
Considered a tough defender, he earned eight caps for France.
Domenech began coaching the France under-21 squad in 1993 and led the team to
the final of the 2002 European championship in Switzerland.
He took over from Santini after France's failure at the 2004 European
championship in Portugal and helped the 1998 world champions finish top of their
group and qualify directly for the 2006 World Cup.
