[dukeofdavinci]

2008: Domenech: 'Italy provoke' Sunday 2 December, 2007

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As ever, France boss Raymond Domenech’s reaction to facing Italy in Euro 2008 was typically controversial.


Les Bleus have been drawn with the Azzurri, Holland and Romania in the so-called Group of Death.


“One certainly can’t be happy in a group like that, but the draw is done now and we have to get used to it,” commented the Coach.


“It is a difficult group with the final game anything but simple against Italy. In fact, it could even be irrelevant, as we have to ensure Romania and Holland don’t knock us out first.


“We all know the quality of the Dutch, but be careful of Romania, as they finished ahead of Holland in qualification.”


The last match in Group C is Italy-France in Zurich on June 21 – the fourth time these teams would have crossed paths in less than a year.


The Azzurri won the World Cup Final on penalties in Berlin after Zinedine Zidane’s dismissal for head butting Marco Materazzi.


The tension from that game has festered with two ill-tempered Euro 2008 qualifiers, a 3-1 home win in Paris and the 0-0 at San Siro.


When Domenech was asked a question about Materazzi and the possibility of facing him again, the Coach stormed out of the Press Conference.


“I don’t talk about Materazzi, the Italians do,” said the tactician who picked up a touchline ban during qualifying for false allegations against Italy.


“First they provoke me and then blame me for everything, but I won’t let myself get swept up in it.”


Italy’s record against France is of 17 wins, nine draws and eight Bleus victories, having scored 77 goals and conceded 48.


However, the peninsula nation hasn’t beaten France over 90 minutes since the 1978 World Cup.


Most notably the Euro 2000 Final was decided by a David Trezeguet Golden Goal. Dino Zoff’s Italy had been leading 1-0 until approximately 30 seconds from time, when Sylvain Wiltord equalised.

he says....

2008: Don expected the worst Sunday 2 December, 2007

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Roberto Donadoni always thought Italy’s Euro 2008 draw would be tough and believes they are ready for it.


“I was hoping for a little more good luck, but that is fine,” said the Coach after they were placed in Group C alongside Holland, Romania and France.


“I had a feeling it was going to be a very difficult group and it is just the latest challenge that we must face with a relaxed state of mind. There are more worrying things in life than football.”


It is a revenge mission all around, as Holland are still smarting from their Euro 2000 semi-final defeat on penalties against 10-man Italy, while relations with France have deteriorated to an all-time low after the ill-tempered World Cup Final and qualifying campaign.


France boss Raymond Domenech showed he is still angry about the encounters with the Azzurri, as he walked out of today’s Press Conference when asked about Marco Materazzi.


“I don’t talk about Materazzi, the Italians do,” said the tactician who picked up a touchline ban during qualifying for false allegations against Italy.


“First they provoke me and then blame me for everything, but I won’t let myself get swept up in it.”


Donadoni was told of the incident, but decided not to get involved in another media melee.


“It is not up to me to judge Domenech’s behaviour,” said the former Livorno Coach. “All I say is that to avoid another run-up to Italy-France with a poisonous atmosphere we must all use common sense.


“Speaking personally, the idea of taking on France again does not create any particular emotions in me.”

and don says


and i say
prick of french **** domench who cant shut himself up whn it lands him in hot water