Former France coach Raymond Domenech has branded members of the national team as 'foolhardy brats' after speaking out for the first time about the World Cup debacle.

Domenech admitted he made mistakes in South Africa last summer, but insisted he has been unfairly blamed for the players refusing to train as his authority crumbled midway through the tournament.

France recorded just one point - from a 0-0 draw in the opening game with Uruguay - as they crashed out of the competition in the group stages, but the summer is already remembered for members of the team going on strike after Nicolas Anelka was sent home for criticising Domenech.

In the line of fire: Domenech reads a statement to the press in South Africa

The coach, who stood down as planned following the tournament, has taken the blame for the incident but is now coming out fighting with a forthright interview due to be published in full in tomorrow's L'Express.

'Everyone is talking instead of me,' he said in extracts that appeared on the newspaper's website. 'I want to restore the truth. I'm not the moron that people are describing me as.

'Let's be clear: I got it wrong, I mustn't have chosen the right players nor found the words that were needed. I do not accept the criticism of politicians, nor that of former players who have turned to journalism, but that does not prevent me from drawing my own evaluation.'

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