Relieved France coach still targets final

HAMELIN, Germany, June 24 (Reuters) France coach Raymond Domenech was relieved after his team squeezed into the last 16 at the World Cup and said reaching the final remained his objective.

''Yes, there was a feeling of relief,'' Domenech said today, a day after the 1998 champions beat Togo 2-0 to finish runners-up in Group G and set up a second round match with Spain on Tuesday in Hanover.

''I felt it when we came back to the hotel at three in the morning,'' he said. ''I thought we could have had to pack to board a plane at eleven. Instead we can stay for at least a few more days and that's great.'' France, relying on an ageing team, have failed to shine so far but have at least avoided another early exit after leaving the 2002 finals without a win or a goal from the group stage.

Their qualification also means the great Zinedine Zidane, who will retire after the tournament and was suspended yesterday, has not played his last match yet.

''We're improving and I believe we'll continue to do so,'' said Domenech. ''It's not now that we want to play the perfect match. It's in the final on July 9.'' France, who beat Spain in the 1984 European Championship final, have played their neighbours 27 times, recording 10 wins, 11 defeats and six draws, but they have never met at a World Cup.

''Spain are a strong team with great players and they score a lot of goals,'' said Domenech, who is of Spanish descent. ''I don't know what their weaknesses are. We have to find out.'' Asked about Spain coach Luis Aragones's disparaging comments about Thierry Henry in 2004, Domenech said: ''I always shake my counterpart's hand after the game. What he has said or done before is not relevant at that moment.'' REUTERS DH RK2115