Previews

France coach Raymond Domenech claimed his players would do his talking on the pitch on Sunday when Les Bleus meet Italy in the World Cup final - but insisted the biggest match in the world was just like any other.
Domenech was not, as he usually is, accompanied by a player for the pre-match press conference and himself gave little away on the eve of, what despite his protests to the contrary, is the biggest game of his career.
"It's just like all the other games," said Domenech at the press conference at the Olympic Stadium, the scene of Sunday's final with the Azzurri, when asked how he was preparing for it.
"It's a match. It's part of the project. We had seven matches and this is the seventh and we are approaching it in the same spirit as we have the others.
"We must perform well and we must win so I can have a peaceful holiday." The coach believes that the match on Sunday will be evenly contested, saying: "The Italians are good in attack, they don't just defend.
"There will be a balance between the two sides and the balance of power will switch from side to side as the match progresses."
Domenech insisted that playmaker and captain Zinedine Zidane, who has not given a press conference since before the 0-0 draw with Switzerland in France's opening game, was going to communicate with the world with actions and not words when he dons his football boots for the last time in a competitive match.
"I understand why he (Zidane) does not want to talk," said Domenech. "Like all the others he is saying the same thing - 'don't talk, do'.
"They (the players) were so criticised after 2002 (when, as defending champions, France were eliminated at the first round stage) so they have decided to keep quiet until tomorrow."
Domenech claimed he was pleased the way that Zidane and striker Thierry Henry were improving their understanding as the tournament progresses.
"They have progressed, they create, they are performing at a better level," said Domenech. "They are playing more to each other's strengths and that's easier.
"We are nearly at our objective - if they can associate their talents together then so much the better for us."
With only Louis Saha, who has been used as a substitute, unavailable through suspension Domenech has 22 players to choose from and it looks likely he will persist with the same starting XI that has featured in all the knockout matches with Spain (3-1 in Round of 16), Brazil (1-0 in quarter-final) and Portugal (1-0 in semi-final).
"I will decide after training tonight," said Domenech.
That means Henry will probably continue to operate as a lone striker with Zidane behind him and Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda on the flanks.
Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira will in all probability continue in midfield holding roles while goalkeeper Fabien Barthez should be protected by the back-four unit of Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas and Eric Abidal that has conceded only two goals so far in Germany - the same number the victorious France 98 side yielded.
Of the six survivors of the squad that won the 1998 World Cup, only David Trezeguet is not likely to feature in the starting line-up.
Referring to Zidane's last match, Domenech said: "It's the last match for him and it will probably be the last match for some others."
Barthez, Thuram and Makelele are expected to quit international football after the tournament.
"But for all the players on both sides it could be the last World Cup match they play so they will all be approaching it in the same spirit."
The day after France won the 1998 World Cup two million people flocked to the Champs Elysees for an open-top bus ride for the winning team that had to be aborted half way through for security reasons.
Domenech refused to look ahead to Monday, saying: "I don't know what I will do.
"I am only thinking about the final and then I will go on holiday. I don't know what will happen afterwards and am thinking only about the World Cup. I can't think beyond that."
Domenech claimed that not being able to train on the Olympic Stadium pitch would not be a problem after heavy rain cut up the grass.
"I would rather we trained on a good pitch 10 minutes away from the stadium although ideally it would have been closer to our hotel than have to train on a bad pitch for 45 minutes."
Asked about whether he saw the match as a chance to silence his critics, Domenech said: "I don't think in those terms.
"Without wishing to be vulgar I don't care (what the press thinks).
"All I want to do is produce a top level team. All the team bosses at this World Cup have been criticised, misunderstood, so it's not a problem for me.
"I think the team has this same siege spirit, and they will close ranks as long as the match (the final) is still to be contested. I am glad about that.
"I have shut off all contacts with the press and the only time I speak to you is on occasions like now. I am not worried, I work with the team.
"What I have come to understand is that some people don't understand.
"When people write about football then I don't care what they write but what annoys me is when they write about other things - that annoys me, it's not journalism.
"All I am interested in is preparing a team for the final."
In 1998, manager Aime Jacquet, while the rest of France was celebrating, used his victorious press conference to humiliate journalists with L'Equipe whom he claimed had tried to destabilise his team.
"I will never forgive you, never," said Jacquet.

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