William Gallas' World Cup in Jeopardy: Domenech Trades Jabs with Wenger

The French civil war has been declared.

Verbally, it's a massacre. The slightly mad Raymond Domenech gets stuck in to vaguely crazy compatriot Arsene Wenger over Wenger's selection of William Gallas against Barcelona on Wednesday.

Words like "livid," "outraged," and even "pissed off" are flying.

In English.

I hate to think what all that sounds like in French.

Domenech, 58, an international full back born in Lyon, leads the assault against Wenger, 60, who never got close to a French cap, having been born in German-speaking Strasbourg.

And you can understand Domenech's argument.

Imagine if Rio Ferdinand had been injured for months and was just approaching full fitness. After just two full fitness sessions he is allowed to play—and survives barely 40 minutes before a relapse of his calf strain.

Now, according to Wenger and the Arsenal medics, Gallas is out for five weeks.

That could be it for France, and the man they hoped would provide leadership and a solid backbone at the World Cup.

Of course, this scenario could also happen for England boss Fabio Capello, with Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney both requiring significant nursing to get to South Africa.

And don't be surprised if Spain comes out with similar complaints against Wenger soon.

He allowed Cesc Fabregas to play despite injuring the same leg in the same place before the Barcelona clash against Birmingham last season.

But for now, we can concentrate on the Gallas situation—and change his name to Rooney, Lampard, Fabregas, (hopefully) Messi, or Ronaldo as the countdown to the big June 11 kick-off in Soccer City approaches.

As Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson would always say: "It's the club that pays the wages."

Gallas last played on Feb. 10 when he first went down with his calf problem. At the time, there were contract talks, and Roma representatives were allegedly hovering.

Some thought we had seen the last of the Frenchman, a leader, an inspiration—and an occasional sulker.

But he did battle back, and had enjoyed just two full training sessions before the Barcelona game.

At the time, I said that epic result might have ended Arsenal's season.

The team lost Andrei Arshavin, Fabregas, and Gallas, leaving little chance of progress at the Nou Camp next week.

Ironically, Gallas went off before halftime, after seeing the Gunners comprehensively outplayed for 42 minutes. Like the injured Arshavin, he saw none of the goals in a magnificent come-from-behind 2-2 draw.

Afterwards, Wenger said: "I took a gamble that didn't pay off. I can say I regret that now. He will be out for a minimum of five weeks."

He didn't look all that upset in the press conference—and that didn't help Domenech's mood, as he prepares for France's pre-World Cup training camp to start on May 18.

Domenech, always under pressure in the French hot-seat, said: "It's outrageous and irresponsible to have played him so early after the injury. It's scandalous. I'm livid and pissed off. He'd better be fit for the World Cup."

But Wenger, sounding like Sir Alex Ferguson when it comes to Rooney later in the month, responded: "We have to first take care of the interests of Arsenal. The French team is important but so is Arsenal, and William is paid by the club, not by the French team. We have to use the players when they declare themselves fit.

"I believe he declared himself fit, and I have the reports from the rehabilitation centre where he worked for 10 days, and he had four days training with the team. Maybe we should have taken some more time but he was jumping, running up and down the stairs in France, and he had very hard sessions. I don't think this will cost him his World Cup."