© Reuters 2002

CLAIREFONTAINE, France, Oct 11 (Reuters) - France captain Marcel Desailly feels he deserves respect rather than criticism as he prepares for his 100th cap for the European champions against Slovenia at the Stade de France on Saturday.

He said on Friday he had been targeted after France's World Cup failure but said of his long run at the top level: "It proves that I was capable to stay at the top for a very long while. It should earn me some respect.

"Several players put the blame on me for our disastrous campaign but it's hardly worth mentioning," the Chelsea defender added.

"When we won the Confederations Cup (against Japan last year) I was regarded like a great captain, like someone fitting perfectly in his position. And today, it's exactly the opposite."

France crashed out in the first round of the World Cup finals earlier this year, failing to score a single goal in what was the worst ever performance by any defending champions.

Coach Roger Lemerre was sacked and replaced by Jacques Santini in July while some critics called for Desailly to hand the skipper's armband to another player like Arsenal's Patrick Vieira or Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane.

Santini then dropped Desailly to the bench in Tunisia for France's first outing after the World Cup.

"After the coach was fired it's obvious they would go for the captain. And on the top of it, I'm 34. But if you blame me as a captain you must blame Santini too," Desailly said.

"He (Santini) has looked for another captain. He has reviewed the matter with me and with many other players and I'm still here.

"I've read somewhere I was not involved enough in my job and many other things too. That I was not paying enough attention to the young players. But the rookies know what they have to do."