France coach Raymond Domenech claims Patrick Vieira will captain
Les Bleus at the World Cup if the Manchester City midfielder
manages to get a run of matches under his belt.
Vieira last week featured in his first two matches for City
since returning to the Barclays Premier League in January with the
aim of forcing his way back into Domenech's squad.
The former Arsenal star had been growing increasingly
frustrated at Inter Milan at his lack of playing time in the team
with the World Cup around the corner.
Vieira was left out of the France squad for their crunch
World Cup qualifying clash with the Republic of Ireland, but
Domenech insists the veteran will almost certainly be on the plane
to South Africa if he remains fit.
"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.
"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.
