“In France the only person who talks rubbish is Domenech. He is the only one pitting the two countries against each other,” the World Champion told Football Italia on Sunday.

Les Bleus coach slammed the Azzurri claiming that they play ugly football and that they should thank him for reaching the Euro 2008 finals.

“The thing that really disappoints me is the fact all this rivalry is unnecessary. Yet a few words too many, said by a single person, created an ugly situation that I do not like,” said the Milan midfielder.

France and Italy have been put head-to-head since the World Cup 1998, the dramatic Euro 2000 final, the World Cup 2006 final, the Euro 2008 qualifiers and now they were put together in next year's Euro finals.

"I'm looking forward for this encounter to teach them a lesson."