Juventus striker David Trezeguet insisted he will never play for France under Raymond Domenech again.
Trezeguet, who has had several disagreements with Domenech since the 2006 World Cup, told Tuesday’s edition of France Football magazine that he could never accept playing under Domenech again.
“It’s really over with Les Bleus,” Trezeguet said. “This decision is clear and irrevocable, even if it upsets me to quit in this way.”
Having first announced his international retirement after the 2008 European Championship – where he was not selected by Domenech – the 31-year-old Trezeguet then backtracked two months ago when he said he wanted to return for France.
But Trezeguet, who is close to a full recovery from surgery on both knees in September 2008, is still bitterly upset at being overlooked for Euro 2008.
“I took some more time to think. I analyzed the four years spent with Domenech, what happened before and after the Euro (2008),” Trezeguet added. “Raymond Domenech is still in charge and has not changed his way of doing things. Even if 60 million French people want him to go, he’s still here.”
Trezeguet is France’s third all-time leading scorer with 34 goals in 71 internationals, including the “Golden Goal” winner against Italy in the Euro 2000 final.
He mocked the French Football Federation for not firing Domenech after France’s poor showing at Euro 2008, where the team went out in the group stage without winning a match.
“The FFF decided to carry on with Domenech, too bad for them,” Trezeguet said.
He also feels that Domenech should have been more humble following France’s Euro 2008 exit – when the controversial coach asked his girlfriend to marry him live on television moments after the loss to Italy.
“I would have liked Raymond Domenech to be self-critical and to really analyze the reasons for this failure,” Trezeguet said. “But no, he asks his girlfriend to marry him … This guy never wants to face up to reality.”
Several former France players have criticized Domenech, including goalkeepers Gregory Coupet and Sebastien Frey – both in the Euro 2008 squad – former Arsenal winger Robert Pires, Christophe Dugarry and Zinedine Zidane.
Trezeguet said he is close to returning to Juventus.
“I can’t say that I’m 100 percent yet, but I am apt to play,” Trezeguet said. “Things will happen progressively.”
He also committed his future to Juventus beyond 2011, when his contract expires.
“As long as possible, I hope,” Trezeguet said. “I know I’ve just lost four months (through injury), but I’ve surely gained several years. I would like to go as far as (Alessandro) Del Piero and (Pavel) Nedved.”
