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Team France is in upheaval after striker Anelka was sent off packing this week after insulting the coach/trainer Raymond Domenech. His fellow teammates held a protest the last few days, refusing to participate in training sessions. Uproar in the French media, the headlines were unanimous: “A Disgrace for the Nation” and “MUTINY.” The result on the field can be seen in today’s match against South Africa …
BLOEMFONTEIN, June 22 (Reuters) – France 0 South Africa 2 – World Cup Group A halftime score
At Free State Stadium.
Scorers: Bongani Khumalo 20, Katlego Mphela 37
Red card: Yoann Gourcuff (France) 25
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)
With this score, the 2006 World Cup runners-up will be sent packing and host team South Africa may survive the 1st Round.
[Update] France scored in 2nd half. South Africa will need 3 goals to qualify ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Very unlikely now …
More to follow …
(CBC) – France’s World Cup ambitions lay in ruins Sunday after public rifts erupted between players, coaches and national officials over Nicolas Anelka, thrown out of the squad for insulting team coach Raymond Domenech.
The squabbling was even brought to the attention of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Amid chaotic scenes at France’s training field in Knysna, Domenech had the humiliating task of explaining why the whole of his squad was sitting behind him on the team bus, curtains drawn, refusing to join in a public training session in front of 200 local fans.
Before his brief speech, Domenech had already been busy intervening in a heated argument between his captain Patrice Evra and the team’s fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Moments after that altercation, the players were calmly walking back onto the team bus, united in protest at Anelka’s exclusion. The some 200 people who had turned out to watch them got only a few handshakes before being snubbed.
Then, in another moment of drama, France team director Jean-Louis Valentin stormed off, shouting that he was “ashamed” of the players for not training. Caught up to by reporters, Valentin announced his resignation from the French Football Federation on the spot.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."