Domenech - Ireland are England B Team

20 Oct 2009

Raymond Domenech the French manager has described his French teams future World Cup play-off opponents as the England B team. He just said: Translated by Google Translation - "We know what to do. Whatever the opponent I would have said exactly the same thing, the goal is to qualify for the World Cup. It is Ireland, it must be done. The advantage is that everybody knows is England a, they all play in the English league, all players know them. There are some who play with them, others play against them: there will be no surprise that side, we know what awaits us. A team that has not lost a match, which draw against Italy in the final game, taking a goal in the final minutes. We know that this is a solid team, they are all players from Premier League. But it is also. "

The French player Bakary Sagna echoed his manager in saying that it will be tough game but they know the Irish players from playing with and against them in the Premier League He makes the comment that he reckons Henry will provide the skill to score as he did in Lansdowne Road in the qualification process for World Cup 2006.

They both want the French fans to get behind their team. They want the French fans to mobilise and buy up as many tickets as possible. They do not want the same scenario as in 2004 when 30,000 Irish fans invaded Paris to make the Stade de France match a home game for Ireland. Sagna said that he wants the French fans to rush on the tickets so the Irish do not buy them, "It would be the first victory".

The coach remembers that during the visit of Scotland in qualifying match for Euro 2008, the Scots were the majority in the stands of the Parc des Princes. "The British are very good at that. They react quickly, then I am sure they are on the internet to try to get tickets. This game will be a real battle, we must support the team of France. Do not the Irish have more seats than what they should be allocated, or 20,000 seats. With facing 60,000 French at the Stade de France."