Soccer-Euro-Sleepless Domenech faces dilemma after Dutch lesson

By Patrick Vignal

VEVEY, Switzerland, June 14 (Reuters) - France coach Raymond Domenech said on Saturday he could not decide whether to keep faith with his old guard or give the youngsters a chance as the team bid to escape an early exit from Euro 2008.

"I didn't sleep last night," Domenech told reporters a day after the 2006 World Cup runners-up were taught a footballing lesson in their 4-1 loss to Netherlands in Group C in Berne.

The France coach, who watched the game over and over on video, could not miss the fact that several of his players, and notably defenders Lilian Thuram 36, and the 31-year-old Willy Sagnol, looked their age on the Stade de Suisse pitch.

"We all get older and matches become tougher and tougher," said Domenech, who is struggling to find the right mix between tiring warriors and promising newcomers.

While Thuram, the only player in the squad to start the 3-0 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, played the whole match, 20-year-old Karim Benzema, a revelation with 20 league goals for champions Olympique Lyon last term, stayed on the bench.

"You never know when the time comes to stop for a player," said Domenech, already thinking about the 2010 World Cup finals and needing, sooner rather than later, to let the curtain fall on France's golden generation.

"Giving the young players more match practice is something to be considered. All depends on the strategy I go for. I'm still hesitating," he added.

NEW ERA

With captain Patrick Vieira, one of three players in the current group with Thuram and Thierry Henry to feature in the 1998 squad, still struggling with a thigh injury, the time might just be right to launch a new era.

France, who must beat Italy on Tuesday in Zurich while hoping Romania do not defeat Netherlands at the same time, paid dearly for not being attentive enough at the back and too clumsy in front of goal against the Dutch, Domenech said.

The coach said Netherlands' first goal by Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben's darting run and strike to put the Dutch 3-1 up were two examples of a lack of concentration.

"When you see someone (Kuyt) scoring with a header from a corner without even having to jump and when you concede a goal while still celebrating the one you've just scored, there is a problem," Domenech said.

"We were a bit clumsly in front of goal, which is something we've been suffering from for a while," he added. "We must admit we lost to a great team playing with a lot of confidence but we could have done better."

The coach then looked forward to facing Italy on Tuesday in a repeat of the last World Cup final, which will either end France's Euro 2008 adventure or give them a new lease of life.

"It's a fantastic opportunity", Domenech said. "I'm not saying we'll win but I know we'll fight. The players have a lot to prove. Not making the most of it would be stupid."

(Editing by Ken Ferris)