New France coach Laurent Blanc faces a huge task rebuilding the national side after its calamitous World Cup left a once-proud team in ruins.

Blanc was officially appointed as Raymond Domenech's replacement on Friday at a French Football Federation council meeting.

Domenech's troubled six-year reign ended with the team split by rifts and infighting, derided by its politicians, and rejected by its own fans.

Blanc was part of France's golden era, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship two years later. He also showed a winning touch with Bordeaux, guiding the team to the league title and League Cup in the 2008-09 season.

But getting France back on track is the biggest challenge the 44-year-old Blanc has faced.

Blanc will take charge of his first game in a friendly away to Norway on August 11, followed by a Euro 2012 home qualifier against Belarus on September 3. More than the games themselves, Blanc must decide which players deserve to play.

Speaking on French television after the FFF meeting, council member and former France defender Lilian Thuram - Blanc's teammate at the 1998 World Cup and at Euro 2000 - said defender Patrice Evra should never play for his country again.

Evra was stripped of the captaincy by Domenech after leading the players in a training strike during the World Cup.

"I asked that Patrice Evra does not play again for the France team," Thuram said on Friday after the FFF meeting.

"I think there is a minimum amount of respect to have."

Domenech and his France team disgraced themselves at the World Cup, when in the space of a few days a shocked nation saw the team completely fall apart, politicians flew to South Africa to try and save face, and others demanded answers back home.

The problems started when sports newspaper L'Equipe published details of Nicolas Anelka's expletive-filled rant at Domenech the day after France lost 2-0 to Mexico in its second group stage match on June 17.

Anelka was sent home, and the next day the entire squad sat on the team bus, refusing to train in protest at Anelka's dismissal. The bizarre images, which included one FFF official storming off and screaming he was "ashamed" before resigning on the spot, were beamed back home.

Evra had a lively altercation with the team's fitness coach - Domenech intervened - and Domenech had to read out a letter on behalf of his players explaining why they were on strike. The players shunned Domenech, drawing the bus curtains, and Domenech responded by dropping Evra and several players for the final group game against South Africa.

France lost 2-1 and went out for the second consecutive tournament without winning a game, after its humiliating first-round exit from Euro 2008.

On the eve of the final World Cup group game, French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot held an impromptu meeting with the players, reducing some of them to tears as she reminded them how they had let the nation down.

Domenech himself said he tried "to convince them that what they were doing was an aberration, an imbecility, a stupidity without name," over their decision to strike, but never blamed himself for failing to control them.

Domenech's last gesture at the Cup was his refusal to shake hands with South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigned Friday as FFF president and accepted his share of responsibility, adding that he was "disappointed in (Domenech)." Escalettes was widely criticised for keeping Domenech after Euro 2008.

While Domenech and Escalettes were grilled this week by a parliamentary committee about the World Cup disaster, that was behind closed doors.

France President Nicolas Sarkozy summoned France striker Thierry Henry to give his version of events last week, but Domenech still hasn't given a full public explanation.

France Football magazine reported on Tuesday that Domenech had agreed on a verbal pact with Henry, Evra and defender Eric Abidal not to criticise each other.

For now, Blanc has inherited an aging team totally bereft of spirit.

He must decide whether the likes of Henry and defender William Gallas, who both turn 33 next month, Evra, and Abidal should carry on playing.

Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit said "it's up to Laurent Blanc to decide who deserves the honour to wear" the French jersey.

In Blanc's time, the team was a picture of harmony compared to the current squad.

Blanc scored 16 goals in 97 games for France, and his sending off in the '98 World Cup semifinal against Croatia deprived him of a chance to play the biggest match of his career.

Rather than sulk, he publicly backed his replacement Frank Leboeuf to do well against Brazil in the final, which France won 3-0.

Blanc won league titles with Auxerre and Manchester United in a distinguished playing career.

Observers widely considered Blanc to be one of football's most stylish players for his cushioned passing and his eye for goal.

Now Blanc's man-management skills which will be truly tested.

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