Laurent Blanc officially named France coach

Laurent Blanc was officially appointed France coach on Friday to replace Raymond Domenech whose contract ended with the national team''s group stage elimination at the World Cup.

The 44-year-old, a prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, has the task of qualifying the team for the 2012 European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine.

The former defender, who coached Girondins Bordeaux to the 2009 Ligue 1 title, was appointed during a council meeting of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris.                                          

FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes formally handed in his resignation at the meeting, having said on Monday he would quit after the federation was blamed for the way it handled a player revolt in South Africa.                                           

"I have decided to resign because it is my duty", Escalettes told a news conference on Friday. "I accept my share of responsibility."   

Domenech's six-year tenure ended in shame when France left the World Cup with a point and a goal after a scandal involving players' boycotting a training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting the coach.