Domenech under fire for making team put on play about missing out on World Cup on eve of Serbia qualifier

The pressure is rising on eccentric France boss Raymond Domenech after members of his squad revealed they spent the week leading up to World Cup 2010 qualification draws with Romania and Serbia learning lines for a Domenech-directed stage show called 'Here Come The Blues - Goodbye South Africa'.

During his five-year reign over the French national side, Domenech has made some controversial decisions.

The keen amateur dramatist prematurely ended Robert Pires' international career because he 'didn't trust Scorpios', has repeatedly ignored David Trezeguet, Sebastien Frey and Philippe Mexes despite their outstanding performances in Serie A and famously handed the Faroe Islands a walkover in a qualifier because he 'felt an ill wind blowing.'

But the latest revelations about Domenech's oddball behaviour may be the final straw as Les Bleus struggle to secure a play-off place in Group 7.

It has come to light that rather than prepare for crunch matches against Romania and Serbia, Domenech penned a five-act musical drama, which he forced members of his squad to perform in.

Worse still, the play titled 'Here Come The Blues - Goodbye South Africa' tells the story of a fading football superpower failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup after becoming overly reliant on ageing stars, not putting away the weaker opponents in the group and struggling to understand the often baffling tactical decisions of the manager (played by Domenech).

"Quite a few of us were up really late trying to learn lines for the big performance on Wednesday night (the night of France's 1-1 draw with Serbia)," Thierry Henry explained.

"We kept saying that maybe we should be doing some tactical drills, but the gaffer (Domenech) was only interested in getting the musical finale perfect."

"I had mixed feelings," goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was dismissed in the 12th minute for hauling down Milan Jovanovich in the box, admitted.

"It was a technically dazzling, emotionally charged production that we put on and I was proud to be a part of it. But, on the other hand, maybe we should have been focusing on trying to qualify for the actual World Cup rather than doing a play about failing to reach it - I suppose those are the tough decisions that managers have to make."