French reel from loss

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-15  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FRANCE'S 1-4 loss to the Netherlands was its biggest tournament defeat in 50 years. Now, coach Raymond Domenech has four days to pull his battered team together before a last chance against Italy at the European Championship.

Friday's defeat at Euro 2008 was FRANCE'S heaviest on the big stage since losing 2-5 to Brazil in the 1958 World Cup semifinals, and was the first French team in 26 years to concede four goals - since Poland won 4-0 in a friendly in 1982.

It will send shock waves through French football and puts more pressure on Domenech's job. "I agree that it did not function well," Domenech said yesterday. "There are choices that don't work and choices that work well. I'm not hiding from reality."

The reality is that France must beat Italy on Tuesday, and hope Romania does not beat the Netherlands. France must hope the Dutch keep on scoring to prevent Romania sneaking through. If Romania wins, France and Italy - the World Cup finalists two years ago - both go out.

"It's not a question of wanting to react, we have to react," France striker Thierry Henry said. "It's not the first time this squad has been in this position. I hope we can once again lift our heads up."

Question marks had hung over the French team leading into the tournament and grew after Monday's 0-0 draw with Romania. Domenech had brushed them aside, preferring to point out how the team was still in control of its own destiny.

Not any more.

"Losing 1-4 and saying that we had a great match and everything is fine would be stupid," Domenech said. "There will be turnover in (the Dutch) squad and they will not have the same energy for the last match against the Romanians. They can win this third match in the sense that the Netherlands will not be very motivated."