France coach rues decision not to award penalty

BERNE (Reuters) - Coach Raymond Domenech said France should have had a penalty at a key moment in their 4-1 thrashing by a flamboyant Dutch side at Euro 2008 on Friday.

The 2006 World Cup finalists, who had started with a dismal 0-0 draw with Romania, are now in real danger of not surviving Group C, the toughest in the tournament.

Domenech said France, who had not lost by such a margin at a finals since a 5-2 defeat by Brazil in the 1958 World Cup semi-finals, should have had a penalty when a Thierry Henry drive was blocked by defender Andre Ooijer on 48 minutes, with the Dutch leading 1-0.

German referee Herbert Fandel ignored French claims for handball and play continued.

"We did try but poor finishing, the opponents' goalkeeper and the refereeing stopped us from scoring the goal that could have put us back into the match," Domenech told reporters.

"It's a pity we didn't have video. I don't like looking for excuses but this is not an excuse, it was an arm."

France, who now need to beat Italy and hope Romania do not upset the Dutch, created many more chances than against Romania, when they had just one shot on target in the whole match.

They were let down though by their usually solid defence, who failed to block the swift Dutch counter-attacks.

"Maybe you could say that we played better than against Romania," Domenech said. "Our weakness was what is usually our strength and that is the defence.

"We did not have that bit of luck you need at crucial moments," he added.

Domenech said the two-times European champions would do their utmost to avoid an embarrassingly early exit.

"It will be tough against Italy," he said, looking forward to a re-run of the 2006 World Cup final, on Tuesday in Zurich.

"It will be our own little final. We have to use it to show what we can do and hope the other result goes our way."

(Editing by Trevor Huggins)