Is Raymond Domenech responsible for the poorest showing by a supposed 'big hitter' of world football in the final stages of any tournament, ever?

France need a total clearout, starting with Domenech himself. Last time I saw that much dead wood on a football pitch, it was Bonfire Night on the school fields.

Rinoceronte Mentaverde wrote:

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Is Raymond Domenech responsible for the poorest showing by a supposed 'big hitter' of world football in the final stages of any tournament, ever?

Er, France 2002?

What about France in 2002?

Sempronio Carpentiere wrote:

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Rinoceronte Mentaverde wrote:

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Is Raymond Domenech responsible for the poorest showing by a supposed 'big hitter' of world football in the final stages of any tournament, ever?

Er, France 2002?

This was worse.

No it wasn't. Then they entered as reigning World and European champions and finished bottom of a weaker group with one point and no goals scored.

And, so as not to keep you in suspense, I'll tell you why.

The team of 2002 pretty much picked itself. The stars of '98 and '00 were still in their primes, and there were no controversial exclusions, no bright young talents knocking on the door. Sure, they underperformed, but you have to point the finger at the players themselves for that.

Whereas this year, with a France team still making room for the creaking bones of Thuram, Henry etc when several younger contenders couldn't even find a place in the squad, Domenech has to take all the blame.

(Maybe I should rephrase my original rhetorical question: "Is Raymond Domenech responsible for the poorest managerial performance..." blah blah)

It's alright you know, you can just say you forgot about 2002.

I think France in 2002 were definitely worse, they didn't even score a goal.

Meanwhile, for performances alone, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more abject than England in 2006.

Sempronio Carpentiere wrote:

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It's alright you know, you can just say you forgot about 2002.

I didn't. Read what I just wrote. I'm talking about managerial fuckwittery when in charge of one of the 'big' nations.

Rudi Voller didn't cover himself with glory for Germany in Euro 2000, of course. Mind you, he did sort of make up for it by getting to the World Cup Final two years later.

Rinoceronte Mentaverde wrote:

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Sempronio Carpentiere wrote:

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It's alright you know, you can just say you forgot about 2002.

I didn't. Read what I just wrote. I'm talking about managerial fuckwittery when in charge of one of the 'big' nations.

Oh, if you're changing your question after it's been asked and answered fine, but to clarify the correct response to ;

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"Is Raymond Domenech responsible for the poorest showing by a supposed 'big hitter' of world football in the final stages of any tournament, ever?"

is "No, he wasn't French manager in 2002".

I mean, I'd be happy for someone to give me a breakdown of the failings of France in 2002 which contradicts this, but my take on it was that they were an XI of undroppables, showboating and resting on their laurels, and didn't realise until it was too late that they actually had to go out and fucking win a game. (You can blame the coach for that to a degree, but I still reckon this year's shambles is even worse.)

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Rudi Voller didn't cover himself with glory for Germany in Euro 2000, of course.

Primarily because he wasn't the coach at the time. It was Erich Ribbeck.