Domenech puts faith in Benzema for World Cup

France coach Raymond Domenech insisted Thursday he would stand by Karim Benzema after picking the Real Madrid striker for 2010 World Cup qualifiers at home against the Faroe Isles on October 10 and Austria four days later.

Benzema caused a storm after last month’s draw with Romania, which compromised French chances of overhauling group leaders Serbia to reach the finals, when he suggested he had not given 100 percent after being restricted to a late appearance from the bench.

“I’ll not condemn him for one phrase. I am not a journalist,” said Domenech pointedly, adding he would “extend a hand” to the player even if his comments had been “unacceptable.”

“He is young, he has talent and a future. He understands he made a mistake.”

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry is in the squad, despite going off injured in last week’s win over Malaga.

“He is not certain for Saturday (with Barca), but thereafter there is a week” for him to join up with the squad “and so we’ll see where we are with him,” Domenech said.

Assuming Henry misses out, then Benzema, who has settled in well at Real, will take on added importance, as will Nicolas Anelka, who was on target in the Champions League for Chelsea in Wednesday’s win at Apoel Nicosia.

Bordeaux’s classy midfielder Yoann Gourcuff will definitely be out after he picked up an injury in his club’s Champions League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

The French have to ensure they win both their final matches to have any hope of catching the Serbians.

Serbia have a four-point cushion and will push the French into the uncertainty of the playoffs if they see off Romania in Belgrade with a match in Lithuania to follow.

A new face in the squad is Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, while Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery will be back to provide some creative focus in the absence of Gourcuff after overcoming his own injury problems which kept him out of action for the opening month of the season.