Resign? Never, insists out of favour Domenech

France coach Raymond Domenech insisted Tuesday he would never consider quitting his post despite his unpopularity with the French public which has deepened since last week’s World Cup play-off furore.

Domenech has proved something of a survivor, keeping his job despite France’s first round knockout from Euro 2008.

But after struggling in World Cup qualifying then securing their ticket only as a result of Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in the playoff with the Republic of Ireland his popularity appears to have hit an all time low.

Yet the 57-year-old came out fighting in an interview with l’express.fr, telling the website: “I have never resigned, and I will never resign. The harder the pressure, the more I become motivated.

“I thrive on adversity. When everything’s calm, I get bored, I start worrying.”

Asked if he had considered quitting given his own low standing with the French fans – he was booed when he turned up with some of his players at this month’s Paris Masters tennis tournament before the Ireland play-off – he replied: “To leave now makes no sense”.

He explained: “Let me reverse the logic. Wouldn’t they think in that case: what a coward, he’s cut and run! (Resigning) would suggest that I’ve completed my job and that I don’t give a damn about the consequences, that would give ammunition to my critics.”

He concluded: “People have to stop dreaming. I’m not someone who walks away. With my players we want to achieve something momentous in South Africa.

“We’ll let a little time go by, see what this and that person is saying, and then kick on again.”

Domenech’s insistence that he was there for the long haul came 24 hours after he was forced to deny reports that he had pocketed over three quarters of a million euros in a bonus for getting France to the 2010 World Cup finals.

“If it really was that, I would be as happy as anything,” he said.

“But it is way over the mark. I won’t even try and contradict the information because it is their usual editorial line. It is a lie. Money is not my motivation.”