Lovesick France coach Domenech admits his mistake

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Lovestruck France coach Raymond Domenech has admitted he was wrong to propose to his girlfriend in toe-curling fashion on live television just after his team had crashed out of Euro 2008.

Instead of apologising for France's 2-0 defeat by Italy and their shocking performance in the tournament as a whole, Domenech opted to propose to football talk show presenter Estelle Denis.

Asked if he would resign as coach after leading France to the bottom of Group C, Domenech replied: 'I have only one project, which is to marry Estelle. I told myself there are beautiful things in life. It's good to tell someone that you love her.'

Admitting his mistake yesterday, a less emotional Domenech said: 'Yes, forgive me. It was an error in communication. I felt a moment of humanity when I should have stayed cold and professional.'

It seems Domenech is not the only one swerving questions about his future, however. During her show, which immediately followed Domenech's mushy interview, Mademoiselle Denis refused to be drawn on whether she would accept the proposal.

France's players were in trouble, too, yesterday when TV pictures revealed a verbal bust-up between Patrice Evra and Patrick Vieira in the tunnel after their 4-1 thumping by Holland on Friday, after which Vieira almost came to blows with Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The bad blood between Van Nistelrooy and Vieira dates from the battle of Old Trafford in 2003 when the Frenchman, an Arsenal old boy, blamed the then Manchester United striker for getting him sent off. Vieira had just been pulled away from Evra by Jean-Alain Boumsong when he was confronted by an angry, yet triumphant, Van Nistelrooy.