A disappointing qualifying campaign capped by that handball in their play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland, their own fans turning against them, politicians and former players calling for the coach's head, discussions already taking place about the next France manager, in-fighting between the players - and all that on top of a dismal Euro 2008 performance.

Then, just as everything was dying down and the country was beginning to focus on the tournament itself, a sex scandal involving four France internationals hit the headlines.

Domenech must surely be crossing his fingers that nothing else happens between now and June 11 when they take on Uruguay.

However, his wish is unlikely to be met as the vice squad's investigation into the prostitution ring continues apace, while the France Football Federation council are widely expected to announce his successor when they meet on May 20.

All this will serve to further harm a France team already lacking in confidence and under attack from all sides.

Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit did not mince his words following Les Bleus' 2-0 friendly defeat at home to an under-strength Spain side.

"The team haven't progressed," said the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner.

"It's even worse than a year ago.

"The team don't appear to be able to play together. When I look at the players individually, their performances with their clubs, there's a world of difference to the performances they're giving in the France shirt.

"The reason is that this team doubt themselves constantly, they don't take the upper hand, they don't have confidence in themselves. But confidence, mental attitude, it's an indispensable ingredient.

"They are petrified by fear."

France fans can take some comfort in the fact that matters were no healthier before the last World Cup, and they did not do too badly then.

Just like now, critics were calling for Domenech to be sacked as the team struggled to qualify for the tournament in Germany, while the former Lyon coach's team selection and tactics left many people scratching their heads.

However, France incredibly finished as runners-up, controversially losing to Italy on penalties in a final best remembered for Zinedine Zidane's dismissal for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

It also signified the end of the golden generation who had helped France to the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and European success two years later.

But what many forget about those halcyon days was that the 2006 World Cup was the first time France had progressed through the qualifiers since 1986, when a victory over Belgium in the third-fourth place play-off was to be their last appearance on the global stage for 12 years.

France failed to qualify for the 1990 tournament and did even worse four years later when, needing just a point from their last two games, they stunningly collapsed, suffering shock home defeats at the hands of rock-bottom Israel and Bulgaria.

Whether they are in a worse position now than they were 20 years ago is debatable.

Both now and then they have had to cope with resounding criticism, but whereas the surprise then was that France failed to qualify, the shock this time is that they did.

France's campaign got off to a woeful start when they lost 3-1 to Austria and back-to-back 1-0 victories against minnows Lithuania did not help their credibility, and neither did a similar scoreline away against the Faroe Islands.

However, France scraped through to the play-offs against the Republic of Ireland and won the away leg 1-0.

Surely nothing more could go wrong for Domenech and his team?

However, Robbie Keane stunned the hosts when he levelled the tie shortly after the half-hour mark and it was Giovanni Trapattoni's men who looked the likelier to score again before controversy struck.

In extra-time Thierry Henry handled the ball twice before setting up William Gallas for the decisive goal to break Irish hearts.

The Republic appealed to FIFA to have the game replayed but to no avail and will have taken little consolation from the worldwide sympathy they received.

So it is with whispers that they do not deserve to be there that France head to the World Cup.

Domenech and his players have assured the fans they can turn things around but that would be nothing short of miraculous.

Petit added: "The players say they have time to sort out the problems before the World Cup.

"Of course anything can happen in football but there's not a miracle all the time and these problems have been recurring for so long.

"I want to be positive but you have to be realistic."