World Cup 2010: France Squad To Be Trimmed To 24 By Monday - Report

'Dom's' idiosyncratic nature means that there are likely to be two more nervy waits for those fringe Bleus...

The untidy saga of the naming of France’s World Cup squad is set to take another step closer to completion on Monday, when coach Raymond Domenech is set to trim a provisional panel of 30 down to 24

‘Dom’ was expected to name a definitive list of 23 names last Tuesday evening, but he sidestepped expectations by changing his mind and naming a panel of 30 at the last minute, giving him further time to ruminate. Six days later, he is set to cut six men from his list, according to the AFP news agency

Apparently, Domenech wants to take 24 players to Tignes, where les Bleus will undergo a training camp, but there is still significant doubt over the fitness of Arsenal centre-back William Gallas, hence the additional player to the 23-man panel FIFA rules allow for the World Cup.

France are destined to stay at L'Ecrin du Val Claret, where they camped before the 2006 World Cup finals, during which they were defeated by Italy in the final on penalty kicks. Superstition has drawn Domenech back to the venue, though the coach must hope this rather shambolic week is not repeated over the course of the next two months.