World NewsCantona Blames French Boss For World Cup |
Eric Cantona believes coach Raymond Domenech and not Zinedine Zidane should be blamed for France's World Cup final defeat by Italy last year.
Italy prevailed 5-3 in a penalty shootout after Zidane had been sent off in extra time for a headbutting offence on Marco Materazzi. The score after 120 minutes was 1-1.However, Cantona believes that Domenech's negative tactics and not Zidane's loss of control were the reasons for the defeat.
Former France international and Manchester United legend Cantona told L'Equipe magazine: "Domenech lost the match.
"From the start of the second half, the Italians refused to attack.
"When you see (Thierry) Henry have to come to get the ball and cross and there is no-one in the penalty area to get on the end - what's the point of having four defenders and two defensive midfielders.
"It's a serious, very serious tactical mistake. Worse than Zidane's headbutt."
Cantona, whose disciplinary record as a player was poor including an infamous attack on a Crystal Palace fan, had some sympathy for Zidane's last act as a professional footballer.
First referring to the penalty with which Zidane gave France an early lead, Cantona said: "He took it with a chip which for me is more mad than headbutting Materazzi."
Zidane's penalty just crossed the line after hitting the underside of the crossbar.
"For him, football is the pleasure of playing. It was not logical, he did not calculate. That's not to say that I am encouraging people to start headbutting."
Cantona claimed that Zidane's headbutt could not be compared to his own assault on the Palace fan.
"I jumped on a supporter," said Cantona. "It's not the same as reacting to someone on the field, it's not the same gesture. What I did was more serious."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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