France coach Domenech optimistic that defender Gallas can recover from calf injury

Domenech optimistic about Gallas injury recovery

TIGNES, France — France coach Raymond Domenech is “optimistic” that Arsenal defender William Gallas can recover from his calf injury in time to play in the World Cup.

Gallas again trained with the rest of the squad Sunday at the French Alpine resort of Tignes, and Domenech is considering whether to play 32-year-old Gallas against Costa Rica in an exhibition match in Lens on Wednesday.

Domenech said on French television Sunday that “from what I’ve seen him do here so far, we can be optimistic” about Gallas, who missed the last few weeks of the Premier League season.

France is in the same World Cup group as Uruguay, Mexico and host South Africa.