Domenech faces selection headache

After watching his side being swept aside by the Netherlands last night coach Raymond Domenech had a restless night, in two minds as to what to do ahead of the crunch Euro 2008 Group C game against Italy.

Domenech has a mind to give youth a chance in the game after seeing his side drop points to Romania before losing 4-1 to Marco Van Basten's side.

Even a win over Italy will not guarantee qualification to the knock-out stages. However, with second place still up for grabs Domenech faces a selection dilemma.

"I didn't sleep last night," Domenech said this morning.

He watched the game over and over on video and could not miss the fact that several of his players - notably defenders Lilian Thuram (36) and Wily Sagnol (31) - looked their age on the Stade de Suisse pitch.

"We all get older and matches become tougher and tougher," he said.

While Thuram, the only player in the squad to start the 3-0 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, played the whole match, 20-year-old Karim Benzema, a revelation with 20 league goals for champions Olympique Lyon last term, stayed on the bench.

"You never know when the time comes to stop for a player," said Domenech, already thinking about the 2010 World Cup finals and needing, sooner rather than later, to let the curtain fall on France's golden generation.

"Giving the young players more match practice is something to be considered. All depends on the strategy I go for. I'm still hesitating," he added.

With captain Patrick Vieira, one of three players in the current group with Thuram and Thierry Henry to feature in the 1998 squad, still struggling with a thigh injury, the time might just be right to launch a new era.

France must beat Italy on in Zurich on Tuesday and hope Romania do not defeat Holland at the same time.

The coach said Netherlands' first goal by Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben's darting run and strike to put the Dutch 3-1 up were two examples of a lack of concentration.

"When you see someone (Kuyt) scoring with a header from a corner without even having to jump and when you concede a goal while still celebrating the one you've just scored, there is a problem," Domenech said.

"We were a bit clumsy in front of goal, which is something we've been suffering from for a while," he added. "We must admit we lost to a great team playing with a lot of confidence but we could have done better."

"It's a fantastic opportunity", Domenech added of the Italian game. "I'm not saying we'll win but I know we'll fight. The players have a lot to prove. Not making the most of it would be stupid."