Have a heart, says trickster

Even during his finest hour the France manager Raymond Domenech was being singled out as a figure of ridicule yesterday after it emerged that he had been tricked by a crank caller impersonating the French President Jacques Chirac.

While Domenech made final preparations for the biggest game of his tenure against Ireland on Wednesday, he received an urgent call, supposedly from the poorly President Chirac, currently in hospital recovering from illness. The voice on the end of the line was in fact that of well-known French comedian Gerald Dahan who, imitating the head of state to perfection, asked France's maligned coach how the team was feeling prior to the big kick-off.

Domenech's usual self-assurance could be heard to drain from his voice, as he politely inquired after the caller's health, before assuring him that Les Bleus would be up to the challenge. "I know how important it is and, don't worry, we'll give everything possible to win the game," said a flustered Domenech. "You never know what will happen but we all want to go to Germany. We have to go. For France, for everyone."

As Dahan's heavy breathing sped up on the other end, Domenech started creepily laying on the compliments. "It's so kind of you to call, sir. Really, it's a fantastically kind gesture. We will all spare a thought for you tonight."

Eventually Dahan put Domenech out of his misery by requesting that he pass the telephone to Zinedine Zidane. Seemingly unsure of where Zidane was at that moment in time, he requested that "Monsieur le President" call back in 15 minutes.

When the second call came a forewarned Zidane seemed much calmer, and after he was asked if, "as a favour", he and his team-mates could place their hands on their hearts during the national anthem "just like you did in 1998", the France captain replied: "Of course. I'll talk to them. We will do it."

Sure enough when La Marseillaise filled the Lansdowne Road air, the players carried out the request in a show of patriotism not seen since that heady night at the Stade de France seven years ago. France fans in the stadium seemed moved and responded by placing their own hands on their hearts, while television commentators spoke of a new spirit in the team since the returns of Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele.

Domenech, whose interview was aired repeatedly on French television on Thursday, took the joke surprisingly well, even claiming that Dahan's intervention had helped his players secure the 1-0 win. "Frankly I found this show of solidarity, this demonstration of unity, beautiful," he said. "It's almost a shame we didn't think of it ourselves because it was a great moment for the French team.

"I don't regret it. It was good. Afterwards we just have to accept that we were tricked by someone who found it funny," he added.

Whether France repeat the gesture against Switzerland next month remains to be seen, but Domenech was keen to switch attention back to more serious matters. " We must be careful not to get too excited," he said. "It's nice to have beaten Ireland but it's only a step. We now have two matches left and we need to win them both in order to put ourselves in a comfortable position."

Domenech, who apologised to Brian Kerr before the game for claiming that Ireland relied on long-ball tactics, is likely to have angered his Irish counterpart again with some of his post-match comments. "Ireland's game is fairly predictable but that won't be the case against Switzerland," said the 53-year-old. "They have more variety in their team and there's no doubt we'll have to raise our game."

France struggled to create any clear chances from open play in Dublin, with their winning goal coming after a piece of individual brilliance from Thierry Henry but Domenech dismissed suggestions that they continue to play as individuals.