IT LOOKS like Eamon Dunphy has finally found his audience -- among the most arrogant people in Europe.

The motormouth pundit's post-match outburst has made its way into the French media, and has ingratiated him with French fans.

While much of the Irish media has focused on the reported internal fighting in the French side and the on-field row between Keith Andrews and Lassana Diarra, the French have taken notice of the RTE panellist's thrashing of Trapattoni.

They are also poking fun at the Irish for their "emotional outbursts" and describe Croke Park as a "curious hell" where they facilitated a karaoke version of Les Marseillaise.

Popular French newspaper Le Monde has said that Dunphy's TV rant gave under-pressure French coach Raymond Domenech reason to smile.

It reports that Dunphy turned on the Irish boss because Trapattoni "expected to inflict a lesson in coaching on his French counterpart on Saturday night," but refused to pick his best team.

"Raymond Domenech has today smiled. Not only did his team not fall into the trap of 'Trap', but the tactics of the idol of Ireland is now being questioned, especially by former player and coach Eamon Dunphy," says the paper.

It goes on to say that while much of the fuss about the selection may be exaggerated, the Irish were suffering from a "glaring deficit of inspiration".

The Blues were apparently "fantasising about the green hell that awaited them in Croke Park", but the biggest shock was the locals' version of the French anthem.

Elsewhere in Le Parisien, Trapattoni is profiled as a man who "thinks with the heart" even though he knows how the tie will unfold.

The paper argues that his aim is to keep the Irish players' minds focused on not conceding a goal before pressing forward and taking advantage on the counter attack. "Clearly an Italian plan," it says.

In recent days the French players have accused the Irish side of playing games through the media, but the Paris papers are stirring their own opinions of Ireland's fans.

We are accused of being sarcastic Celts who have been faced down by a "cold professionalism".

French sports newspaper L'Equipe believes that the French have only one thing to be wary of -- the "fighting spirit" of the Irish, while they single out striker Kevin Doyle as the in-form player of Irish football. It says the blonde Wexford man is imagining being the nation's saviour. -- Kevin Doyle

- Kevin Doyle