France boss Domenech gets vote of confidence

Under-fire French coach Raymond Domenech received the dreaded vote of confidence on Sunday, just hours after the 1998 world champions suffered another setback in their bid to reach the World Cup.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Romania in Paris left France, the 2006 runners-up, needing to beat Serbia in Belgrade on Wednesday to keep their hopes of automatic qualification alive.

“I repeat: yes, yes, yes. I have to say it three times. He has the job of qualifying us for the World Cup,” said French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

“And I repeat that even if we have to go into the play-offs, it’s still Raymond Domenech’s job.”

France’s desperate fight to finish top of their group has also been hit by injuries to playmaker Franck Ribery and defender Julien Escude, who scored an own goal in Saturday’s game.

“We don’t know whether they will be able to play on Wednesday,” said Domenech.

“We shall see, we generally wait a day after a match (Monday in this case) to take an overall analysis.”

Ribery, who has a calf problem, has endured an injury-plagued summer and has barely played for Bayern Munich this campaign.

He came on in the 57th minute against Romania without making much of an impression.

Serbia lead France by four points in Group Seven with just three matches remaining.