Under-pressure France coach Raymond Domenech said he was not worried by his own fate ahead of a World Cup qualifier in Romania that could mark the end of his tenure.
“The only thing I’m worried about is the fact that we need to qualify for the 2010 World Cup,” Domenech told reporters.
“I’ve said so before and I’ll keep saying it—qualifying does not depend on one match alone and there will be more matches after this one,” he added.
Domenech, who was left in charge but told he needed results after his team’s group-stage exit from Euro 2008, knows a defeat on Saturday might cost him his job.
The 56-year-old, whose team opened their qualifying campaign with a shock 3-1 defeat by Austria, earned himself a reprieve with a 2-1 win over Serbia last month.
Domenech received support from captain Patrick Vieira, who has not played for France for months because of a thigh injury but should lead the team on Saturday.
“Since he’s been left in charge, players and officials must support him, full stop,” midfielder Vieira told reporters on Friday. “He has to stay on until the end, he has to be allowed to keep doing his job.”
