Domenech has point to prove in Kiev
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Article summary
France coach Raymond Domenech is adamant that his team did not qualify for UEFA EURO 2008™ by default and wants to put on a show against Ukraine in Kiev.
Article body
Raymond Domenech wants France to end their Group B campaign with a flourish after they qualified for UEFA EURO 2008™ without even playing on Saturday.
Pressure off
Italy's 2-1 victory in Scotland at the weekend confirmed both the Azzurri and Les Bleus as the teams to progress from Group B. The result eliminated Scotland and took the edge off France's trip to Ukraine on Wednesday's final day of qualifying matches. However, Domenech is determined to show that his side could have done the hard work themselves by winning in style in Kiev.
'No favours'
"The main target in Ukraine is to win and to show that no one helped us," said the coach. "To show that we need favours from nobody." France travel without injured midfielder Mathieu Flamini yet welcome back Thierry Henry from an achilles complaint. The expected wintry conditions at the NSC Olympiyskiy Stadium do not worry the FC Barcelona forward. "I played in Moscow when I was at Arsenal [FC] and the temperature was minus 20. As long as there's no wind, we'll be fine." Les Bleus lie second in the group, one point behind an Italy team who face the Faroe Islands in Modena.