Raymond Domenech is one step away from going into legend. What does he feel about that?

Raymond, how are you feeling today, following France’s qualification for the Final?
Naturally, the overriding emotion is excitement when you reach the final of a competition like this. We came here with that goal in mind and we’re very happy to have made it. It’s the biggest match of all because it’s the very last one. We didn’t want to look too far ahead after the wins over Spain and Brazil, but now we’re there!

Have you already turned your attention to your opponents Italy?
I feel quite strange at the moment, because I’ve always had a lot of admiration for Italy. Their teams have always fought hard and shown great mental strength, and I have good memories of every Azzurri side. So I feel slightly odd as I think about facing them.

How are your players feeling?
They’re very tired, but that’s normal. I’m talking about physical fatigue only, not mental fatigue. That’s great news really, because we all know that finals are won in the mind.

Despite your team’s excellent physical condition, they have been criticised for being too old. I keep having to repeat myself: my players are not old! It’s true that some have reached a good age, but with the right preparation they can still run! (laughs) Seriously, though, they believe in themselves and that’s more important than anything. Age can be a problem when you have to consistently put in gruelling efforts over a six-month period, but not in such a short competition.

Do you feel that the experience of the senior players has played a vital role in France’s success?
The senior players know what they’re talking about and share that with the others. They never allow themselves a moment’s doubt and never play a match in their heads before it actually starts. I can assure you they’ll be ready at 8pm on Sunday - and not before.

What does your work consist of now?
It’s a lot easier than it was at the start of the competition. Now I restrict myself to a few speeches, the pre-match team talk and a video session. To be honest, when I put my trainers on to go on the training-ground, it’s more for show than anything else! (laughs)

Are you confident that you have a future in charge of the French team?
I’m not thinking about it. And I don’t have enough perspective on it, anyway - I’m too heavily involved in this competition. I always said that, as far as I was concerned, we had seven matches to win. All I know is the last one takes place in Berlin on Sunday. Beyond that, I’m not the kind of person to rate our performance by reading the newspapers and trying to boost my ego.

You have faced a lot of criticism in the last two years. Has that affected your reaction to this success?
Don’t go thinking that I’m on some sort of personal revenge mission. I don’t look at it like that and I’ve never held a grudge against anyone. I still think I’ve done what needed doing, perhaps the criticism was as well-founded as my own belief in this side.

Now you have just one more match left to win.
We’re going to have to bring together everything that was good about our previous games. I’m proud to have taken the team this far and proud of what’s happening in France at the moment. Despite what Baron Pierre de Coubertin said a long time ago, it’s not just the taking part that counts.

Source: WCoffsite