The federal council of the French Football Federation (FFF) voted in favour of retaining Domenech as Les Bleus coach at a board meeting in central Paris.

The 56-year-old's position appeared untenable following his side's 3-1 defeat to Austria in a World Cup qualifier at the beginning of September, which came on the back of France's disappointing showing at Euro 2008 in June.

In their past two qualifiers, however, they beat Serbia 2-1 before coming back from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw in Romania on Saturday.

France then defeated Tunisia 3-1 in a friendly on Tuesday, a timely victory for Domenech considering the FFF board meeting that came 24 hours later.

The French players have remained loyal to the coach and now three matches into their World Cup qualifying campaign, FFF officials have decided against rocking the boat.

"There is a unity among the players who want to go to the World Cup with their coach," said FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

"It would be criminal to stop what we have started. An important step has been made in the reconstruction of this France team.

"What tipped the balance strongly in Raymond Domenech's favour was what happened in the second half in Romania.

"The team did not give up. The coach knew what to say when it had to be said. There was a reaction and something happened."

France may be fourth in the Group Seven table on four points, but there appears a determination among the squad to turn things round.

French league (LFP) chief Frederic Thiriez, a member of the FFF's federal council, said: "It seemed to us that it wasn't necessary to break this momentum with a brutal change of coach and it is a choice we came to after much thought.

"The team is young and is in full reconstruction. Something has happened between the players and the coach.

"A change would bring more risks than advantages.

"Whatever people say about Raymond and his communication skills, the main thing is to see the France team in South Africa in 2010. The debate is now closed."

Many, including a number of former France internationals, called for Domenech's head following Les Bleus' dreadful Euro 2008 campaign, which saw them pick up just one point from three games and finish bottom of their pool.

Domenech's relationship with the press has also been scrutinised, and the media criticised him for choosing a bizarre time - moments after the France's defeat to Italy that knocked them out of the Euros - to propose to his girlfriend live on television.

He was nevertheless given a vote of confidence by the FFF on July 3 ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Despite a record of just one win from three qualifiers, his players have rallied around him and the support of senior players like Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery has helped no end.

Fernand Duchaussoy, another FFF board member, said: "I wasn't in Romania but I felt a certain desire, a momentum - the players want to go to the World Cup.

"To change the staff is not a good solution."

Domenech's next match in charge will be a friendly with Uruguay in Paris on November 19.

France then play Argentina in a friendly in Marseille on February 11 before back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania at the end of March and start of April.

Domenech, who guided Les Bleus to the 2006 World Cup final where they lost on penalties to Italy, has been in charge of France since July 2004.