Bini extends France contract

Bruno Bini has been rewarded for leading France to the FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals with a new two-year contract running until after UEFA Women's EURO 2013.

The 56-year-old signed the deal at the French Football Federation (FFF) headquarters on Tuesday, and it includes a clause that will automatically extend the contract until the 2015 World Cup if Les Bleues qualify for the continental finals in Sweden. The FFF website said the new deal rewarded the "steady and excellent results of Les Bleues during recent months".

Former AS Nancy-Lorraine midfielder Bini took over as France coach in 2007 having previously guided various national youth teams between 1993 and 2004, most notably winning the 2003 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. Bini steered France to the UEFA Women's EURO 2009 quarter-finals and after an impressive qualifying campaign they reached the World Cup last four for the first time this month in Germany.

That earned them an Olympic women's football tournament debut for next year, but before that assignment they begin EURO qualifying Group 5 at the Republic of Ireland on 22 September, with Scotland, Wales and Israel also in the section.