France coach Jacques Santini hit back at criticisms from retired midfielder Emmanuel Petit and praised his goalkeeper Fabien Barthez on Thursday.

Petit, 32, announced his international retirement on Monday, blaming Santini for a "lack of frankness", but the coach responded the day after his team secured their Euro 2004 qualification with a 2-0 win over Slovenia.

"Maybe the standard is too high for him (Petit)," Santini said.

Petit, plagued by injuries last season, criticised Santini in an interview with L'Equipe.

"My goal was to qualify France for the Euro finals, the statistics and the manner are there," Petit said.

"But the worst is that he (Santini) questions the skills of Mr Simonet (the French federation president) and of the League.

Santini said he did not understand Petit's comments.

"It is incomprehensible, and not very graceful. Perhaps he is disrespectful of his team mates, especially to Patrick (Vieira) and Claude (Makelele)", Santini said.

Petit had appealed for a place in the starting line-up, but was kept out of the team by Makelele and Vieira, and recently by Olivier Dacourt or Benoit Pedretti.

The French coach also said other players had been@gracious when they decided to retire.

"When he decided to quit, Italy's Paolo Maldini acted like a gentleman. Maybe Manu did not have this kind of behaviour," Santini said.

Santini, however, was full of praise for Barthez, who was outstanding against Slovenia on Wednesday.

Barthez, recently out of favour at his club Manchester United, made some fine saves after France were reduced to 10 men following Makelele's sending-off in the 66th minute.

"If the less he plays, the better he is, it's fine with me," said Santini.

"I'm happy for him. We'll serenely wait for what comes next.

"He wants to wear the French shirt, he's made a lot of efforts even if he does not play. I am very very happy with Barthez," he added. "We trust him."

Barthez has not played a premier league game this season, with new American keeper Tim Howard starting all four of United's matches.

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