Hailed as a national hero for bringing France to the 2006 World Cup final when no one thought it possible, Raymond Domenech is today in the dock following Les Bleus’ early exit.

Yesterday’s result doesn’t give a full picture of what happened on the pitch. Ribéry was carried off on a stretcher in the 7th minute, while Abidal was sent off at the 25th minute after his foul gave Italy a penalty – and that’s without counting the referee’s numerous mistakes.

However, a European Championship is played from day one, and France never shone. History will remember a poor draw against Romania, a humiliating defeat to the Dutch and then the fatal blow by Italy.

Is Domenech’s reign now over?

Bernard Bosquier is a former French football defender, who played for Saint-Etienne and Olympique Marseille. He was widely regarded as the best French defender of the 1960's. He gave us his impressions after France's elimination.

There are some extenuating circumstances to this defeat, like Franck Ribéry's injury, but that's no excuse. Ribéry isn't Platini or Zidane. This match was better than the two first ones. But I was sorry to see that Domenech hadn't been more audacious in his choices. Why put in Boumsong and not a forward? I was shocked by the exit of Nasri, just after entering the match.

If the French team had played like that before, we wouldn't have gotten here. I saw some encouraging signs. As for the foul by Abidal, it was a serious one, but he's not a real middle defender. Furthermore, it's not a major Italian team they were facing.

In this tournament, all the teams were worthy on a technical level. It's the mental one and the collective that makes the difference. When you don't care a lick for the buddy next to you, you play for yourself. There are signs that don't lie; when we see French players coming off the bus, each one with his iPod on his ears, we just don't have the feeling that there's conviviality between them all. When we see the Turkish or Dutch team by comparison, the difference is significant.

And I'm not even talking about the statements by Vieira with regard to the medical staff, which, on the eve of a capital match, adopts in unacceptable attitude. These are the small details that reveal the atmosphere around the French team.

Of all the teams in the tournament, this is the only one that plays calmly, waiting for an opportunity. France displayed a game much too stereotyped.

This elimination is a half-surprise. We should question it. In any case, I don't think that Domenech will leave; he's signed through 2010 and I have trouble imagining the Federation breaking the contract. But his not putting in Mexès and Trezeguet remains inexplicable for me."

In the A to Z of French Football, Z will now stand for Zurich, the place where Les Bleus finally were forced to call time on the golden generation.

Since 1998 France has been surfing a wave of success. The World Cup win on home soil, the Euro two years later, countless players sold abroad, and the vogue for French players will continue. France is a stable that produces football thoroughbreds - look at how many French players have been integrated into the top clubs in the most lucrative leagues of Europe.

The issue next is how France brings on the new boys, the young players who've had their first taste of international disappointment, and how these boys are turned into men who can achieve for the nation.
So Z for Zurich - the end or the beginning, time as they say will tell. Who to succeed Raymond Domenech? D for Deschamps, Didier, captain of the 1998 World Cup winners.

Losing to Italy - how the Gods were against France. How many unlucky things could happen in one game? Ribery's injury, Abidal's red card (which also robbed us of seeing Ribery's replacement, the talented Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri - he was taken off for Jean-Alain Boumsong) and that killer deflection off Thierry Henry's boot for goal two. Bet he felt like Terry Henry not Thierry Henry after that one.

Who'll win the tournament? Italy; no. Germany; no. These two like the heavy going but for me have too much of a transitional look about them.

Croatia; perhaps. Slaven Bilic is a clever and determined character. I had the pleasure of interviewing him several times during his playing career in England. He has moulded a team which looks part German, part Italian, and capable of great things. Bilic will take a highly paid job in possibly English football soon, this is my prediction!

Holland - I just watch and smile. Football as it was meant to be. Wesley Sneijders is the man who makes almost everything happen. But they have match winners in every position. At least it seemed that way against France!

But then there's Spain and Portugal too. So much football left to be played!! The final is on June 29th in Vienna. I'm trying to find my old record collection. In it there's a track by a new Romantic band called Ultravox, I'm trying to sell the office an idea for a music montage. Willy B's excellent pictures cut to the music. Check out the track - Vienna by Ultravox. Les Bleus, this one's for you:

But the chorus might cut too deep for the over sensitive French.
"It means nothing to me ... Oh Vienna!" Yes mes chers amis, it means nothing if you've been knocked out.
Yes, once I too looked just as daft as the people in the video. Apologies to Midge Ure."