Gallas gives under-fire Domenech full backing – press

The French squad are fully behind under-scrutiny national coach Raymond Domenech ahead of this weekend's World Cup qualifier, William Gallas said on Wednesday.

Speaking from the team's training camp outside Paris, the Arsenal player gave the 56-year-old coach a ringing endorsement.

“We are behind the coach. We have started with him and we will end with him,” the defender told L'Equipe.

“He knows the pressure is on him now, and he needs results.”

On Saturday Les Bleus face Romania in the third 2010 qualifier, in what is seen by many as a must-win match for Domenech, whose team sit second bottom of Group 7.

There have been renewed calls for Domenech to stand down since his side's catastrophic opening defeat at Austria, but a strong 2-1 win over Serbia four days later gave the coach a much-needed lifeline.

A good victory over Romania is all the more crucial as Domenech's bosses will meet four days later to decide whether to keep or sack him.

Gallas said: “Yes, we will make an assessment after Romania, but why not make an assessment after the first two games?”

The former Chelsea player said there was no point in changing the coach midway through the qualifying stages.

“If we change will it be better? Who can be sure of it? Nobody. I'm for continuity. You start with someone and you stay with them until the end.

“If we don't get to the World Cup, I agree, you change. But not before.”

Questioned about France's dismal Euro 2008 championship, where they went out in the first round after scoring only one goal, the 31-year-old said: “It is not easy to stay in the limelight when the team lose.

“During the Euro it didn't go very well … now we are on a new adventure.”

He added: “With the coach.”