The former France coach: “And to think that some people criticize Les Bleus… Zidane’s sending off in the 2006 World Cup final? Knowing him, I knew it could happen.”

Raymond Domenech and Italy are a story unto themselves. And there is always a lot of irony in the words of the former France coach who lost the 2006 World Cup to the Azzurri: “But I watched the final in Berlin again ten years later, and only in bits and pieces,” the 73-year-old told Sports Predictions. Especially Zidane’s sending off because everyone kept talking about it.“

Are you still angry with Zidane?

”Knowing him, I knew it could happen, but every now and then I wonder why he behaved that way. But Vieira’s injury had a greater impact. It’s water under the bridge now.”

Are you still convinced that one team won and the other didn’t lose?

“Even FIFA considers it a draw. It’s like an Olympic silver medal, and many people tell me it was the most beautiful World Cup ever. I have no regrets. We were the favorites, and the Italians only played with pride for ten minutes after Zidane’s goal, which came too early.”

Materazzi’s pride.

“He was the star of the final: he provoked the penalty, equalized, got Zizou sent off, and scored his penalty. Who could ask for more?”

In 1994, in his first match against Italy, in the Euro Under-21 semifinal, they lost on penalties.

“Two years later in Barcelona in the final against Spain, you committed a barrage of fouls: it was scandalous what the referee let you get away with. You ended up with nine men and were happy to go to penalties. It’s a tradition of yours, against me in particular…”

Another controversial match with the Under-21s: Italy-France in ’99, 2-1 for the Azzurri. And in 2007, you accused the referee of corruption.

“We were cheated, but I didn’t understand why the Italian media took it out on me. I was angry with the Portuguese referee who unfairly sent off one of our players and disallowed a valid goal by Henry. A few years later, the Calciopoli scandal was uncovered, leading to various convictions.“

You were disqualified, and Gattuso criticized you.

”I missed the match at San Siro, a sad draw that suited everyone. Gattuso was impulsive.”

Gattuso is now the coach of Italy, which is condemned to play in the playoffs to qualify for the World Cup.

“It makes me smile, I know what it means. These are high-tension games. I saw Italy against Israel: Donnarumma saved you, you played badly. And to think that there are those who criticize France.“ In 2006, France beat Italy 3-1 after the World Cup final: was it revenge? ”The important game was the one in Berlin, but we showed that even without Zidane we could beat the world champions. I should have left after that victory. But I was hoping to win the European Championship.“

At Euro 2008, however, you were eliminated by Italy. You lost 2-0 and asked your now ex-wife to marry you live on TV: it caused an uproar.

”After a long review of the tournament, they asked me what I was going to do next. I replied that I would take advantage of the holidays to get married. I was being spontaneous, but not everyone understands me.“

Let’s dispel a myth: Domenech selected players according to their zodiac signs.

”It’s ridiculous to even ask me that. I never did anything like that with the national team, just as I never paid attention to the many journalists who told me who to select. When I was coaching Lyon, however, I did put the ‘scorpions’ together in practice matches to avoid problems.“

Another myth: Domenech the superstitious, who sees premonitory signs in an Italian flag before the European Championship match.

”More than superstition, it’s autosuggestion. I saw the flag from the hotel because there were more Italian fans around. At the 2006 World Cup, on the other hand, I went running before the games. Before the final, I hurt my calf, but I kept going until the end. At the stadium, I was injured and exhausted: it was all symbolic.”

Another original idea: he took the players to the theater.

“Life is not limited to soccer. I have always appreciated the role of educator, which is why I was more suited to being the coach of the Under-21 team. Before games, I would leave it to the players to talk to the team and decide on the lineup, which was already evident from training. Today, I tell myself that I was a pioneer. In 1984, I already had a psychologist on staff in Mulhouse.“

The 2010 World Cup saw a revolt in the locker room, a strike, and ethnic divisions: was it a sporting or social failure?

”It was a failure of organization, power, and responsibility. We lacked individual and collective intelligence. I made mistakes in the call-ups. I should have left Anelka or Gourcuff at home. Even though, until the very end, everything seemed to be going well.“

There was a lot of controversy with Italy, but your childhood friends were ”ritals,“ Italian immigrants.

”They still are, Nicola Saccinto and Patrick Baldassara. The Saccintos were from Puglia, and in the summer we would cross Italy in a Fiat 850 to go to the beach in Bari. There was a Fiorentina pennant on the rearview mirror. My first wife was a D’Orefice. My current partner has Italian origins. I love Italy, a beautiful country with its contradictions and exuberance, just like me. I like to provoke, but with Italians you joke with respect. But don’t tell me Sinner is Italian: he’s Austrian! (laughs, ed.).”

In 1972, you were one of the leaders of the players’ strike in France. Should they imitate you for the calendars?

“We stopped soccer to protest the lifetime contracts that enslaved us. Today, we need more courage and fewer words. The problem is that a minority play too much. A limit on the number of games should be set in every competition to ensure quality on the field and give more space to young players and those who play less. A fund should also be created for older players in difficulty. It is also thanks to them that football is so rich today.”