Vieira captain of France if..
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:46 pm..he gets a run of games for us. I just hope RM only plays him if he performs!
France coach Raymond Domenech has revealed that Patrick Vieira will captain Les Bleus at the World Cup if he can maintain a first-team place at Manchester City.
The former Arsenal star had been growing increasingly frustrated at Inter Milan at his lack of match action, but last week featured in his first two matches for City since returning to the Premier League in January with the aim of forcing his way back into Domenech's squad.
Vieira was left out of the France side for their crunch World Cup qualifying clash with the Republic of Ireland, but Domenech insists the veteran midfielder will feature in South Africa if he maintains his fitness.
"If he gets a run of matches Patrick Vieira is the captain of the France team," he told Orange Sport. "He has just started playing again.
"Don't do what you normally do, a player has a good match so he has to be in the France team, then he has a bad match, you have to drop him from the France team...
"What matters, and Pat knows it, is that he gets a run of matches. That's what he says."
Quality
Domenech added: "I definitely don't have any doubts about his qualities. And he knows that and we are in complete agreement because we have discussed it at length.
"What matters is that he gets a run of matches and if he gets a run of matches...Patrick Vieira is the captain of the France team and that's it.
"There's not even a debate."
Vieira, who turns 34 during the World Cup, has 107 caps for his country.
France coach Raymond Domenech has revealed that Patrick Vieira will captain Les Bleus at the World Cup if he can maintain a first-team place at Manchester City.
The former Arsenal star had been growing increasingly frustrated at Inter Milan at his lack of match action, but last week featured in his first two matches for City since returning to the Premier League in January with the aim of forcing his way back into Domenech's squad.
Vieira was left out of the France side for their crunch World Cup qualifying clash with the Republic of Ireland, but Domenech insists the veteran midfielder will feature in South Africa if he maintains his fitness.
"If he gets a run of matches Patrick Vieira is the captain of the France team," he told Orange Sport. "He has just started playing again.
"Don't do what you normally do, a player has a good match so he has to be in the France team, then he has a bad match, you have to drop him from the France team...
"What matters, and Pat knows it, is that he gets a run of matches. That's what he says."
Quality
Domenech added: "I definitely don't have any doubts about his qualities. And he knows that and we are in complete agreement because we have discussed it at length.
"What matters is that he gets a run of matches and if he gets a run of matches...Patrick Vieira is the captain of the France team and that's it.
"There's not even a debate."
Vieira, who turns 34 during the World Cup, has 107 caps for his country.