PARIS (AFP) - Arsenal star Robert Pires has put his international future at risk by publicly accusing France coach Raymond Domenech of irritating him and other players with "his attitudes, words, and observations".
"It seems that we, the Arsenal players, are the future props of the national team but we don't feel like it," Pires, capped 79 times and with 14 goals to his name, told France-Football magazine on Thursday.
The most senior French player has been seething towards Domenech ever since he was substituted at half-time in the 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Cyprus two weeks ago.
"If that match had taken place at the Stade de France, I would not have stayed there. I would have been annoyed, angry," he said.
"Honestly, I think nobody understands what the coach was doing."
Pires, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Friday, also believes that Domenech, who took over from Jacques Santini after the French were dethroned as European champions in the summer, could learn a lot from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
"It's simple. In England, I am lucky to have Arsene Wenger who understands me and puts me and the others in the best possible condition to succeed," said the player.
"There is total confidence which doesn't exist elsewhere. In the national team, at the moment, this is not the case.
"Nothing in the attitudes of the coach allows me to think that he has confidence in me."
Neither Domenech or any of his coaching staff were available to comment on Pires's outburst.
But the day after the game in Nicosia, the coach defended his decision to take off Pires and replace him with Daniel Moreira.
"A player who is substituted at half-time and isn't disappointed would be best stopping his career," said Domenech.
Pires had already aired his doubts over Domenech after the 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands but the player along with Arsenal club mates Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry met the coach in a clear-the-air meeting in London to iron out their differences.
10/28/2004 - 18:12 GMT - AFP