If unity and harmony are important components for success at the World Cup, France may as well not bother boarding their plane to South Africa.Managers have found themselves under pressure before major tournaments in the past, but has anyone ever faced as much flak and criticism from all quarters as Raymond Domenech is fielding at the moment?
The answer must be a comprehensive 'no'. Yet what makes Domenech's situation so unique is that the majority of abuse and questioning of his abilities as a national coach is coming from within.
French Sports Minister Rama Yade has become the latest to wade into the raging debate over whether or not Domenech should be replaced before this summer's tournament.
And in keeping with recent tradition and the French's outspoken attitude towards such matters, Yade has pulled no punches by declaring Domenech should have been dismissed as long ago as 2008, in the wake of France's woeful showing at the European Championships.
Now France's recent 2-0 defeat to Spain in Paris has not exactly helped the situation. Yade said: "We should have replaced the coach after the fiasco at Euro 2008 and judged him on those bad results.
"It is a shame to see his poor style of play. We've got some great individual players, but the manager has been so far unable to shape a team."
France went into Euro 2008 as one of the favourites to win, but suffered the humiliation of being dumped out in the first round and finished bottom of their group.
Then they struggled to qualify for the World Cup and had to rely on that infamous illegal goal from Thierry Henry in a play-off against the Republic of Ireland last October to see them scrape through. With the exception of Henry, who has received continued support from Domenech, it would almost seem as if the players are trying to get him the sack.
Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps, both World Cup winners themselves, have been linked with replacing Domenech, yet the man apparently remains bullet-proof, irrespective of how hard certain people try to force him out.
