France coach in fighting mood before Romania test

By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) - France coach Raymond Domenech said he felt in a combative mood ahead of a World Cup qualifier in Romania on Saturday that could cost him his job.

Domenech, who was left in charge but told he needed results after his team's group-stage exit from Euro 2008, knows a bad result in the Group Seven match (7:40 p.m. British time) in the Black Sea port of Constanta might spell the end of his tenure.

"The more complicated things get, the more I want to fight," the abrasive coach said in a video interview posted of the French Football Federation's (FFF) website (www.fff.fr).

"I wouldn't like anybody to think that I could let go and might feel like giving up," added Domenech, who has had a difficult relationship with some of his players and the media for years.

The 56-year-old, whose team began their qualifying campaign with a shock 3-1 defeat by Austria, earned himself a stay of execution with a 2-1 win over Serbia last month.

He realises, however, that he is not safe yet, FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes having said an assessment of the coach's position would be made after the Romania match.

GOALLESS DRAW

The World Cup finalists know Romania can be tough to beat since finding no way through their tight defence in a goalless draw in their opening Euro 2008 match in June.