[Big A]

France refuse to train, top French Football Federation official resigns
From correspondents in Knysna, South Africa
June 21, 2010 .France's FIFA World Cup squad refused to take part in a training session in front of the public, according to top French Football Federation official Jean-Louis Valentin who subsequently resigned.

"I am disgusted, I am quitting my post," Valentin told the assembled press.

Valentin quit shortly after France captain Patrice Evra had a shouting match with fitness coach Robert Duverne prior to the scheduled training session which led to embattled coach Raymond Domenech to intervene.

The incident took place as the rest of the squad - minus shamed striker Nicolas Anelka who has been sent home after a foul mouthed tirade of abuse at Domenech - were greeting the members of the public who had been allowed in to watch the session.

Evra departed to acknowledge the public while a furious Duverne, threw his stopwatch towards the far end of the pitch.

France need to beat hosts South Africa handsomely on Tuesday and hope that the Mexico against Uruguay clash does not end in a draw if they are to have any chance of reaching the second round.



Agence France-Presse

[TorryJens]

France should have solved the problem before coming into South Africa.
This was not a new problem but had been around since the qualifying rounds many many months ago.

Everyone knew the French were divided into 2 camps...... with Anelka, Patrice Evra, Sagna, Gael Clichy, Malouda, Abou Diaby and Frank Ribery on one camp..... and Yohan Gourcuff, Djibril Cisse, M Valbuena, Andre P Gignac, Sidney Govou, Abu Diarra, Jeremy Toulalan, Anthony Reveillere and Marc Planus in the other camp.

These two groups just couldn't get along together and if they were playing in the same team would ignore the players from the other group.... that was why France's teamwork was non-existant.

[NeroASERCH]

Everyone knew the French were divided into 2 camps...... with Anelka, Patrice Evra, Sagna, Gael Clichy, Malouda, Abou Diaby and Frank Ribery on one camp..... and Yohan Gourcuff, Djibril Cisse, M Valbuena, Andre P Gignac, Sidney Govou, Abu Diarra, Jeremy Toulalan, Anthony Reveillere and Marc Planus in the other camp.

Foreign based players against home players? Wah I didn't know that, sure bor? I thought it's the old guards not happy with Domenech leave out some good players like Nasri and Benzema, and Henry as bench warmer??

[MannoFr]

i am sure the french fans enjoy the 12 hours flight to south africa to enjoy the crap their national team gave them.

it is about the same time, they might as well come to singapore.

[HedgeYourBets]

France should have solved the problem before coming into South Africa.
This was not a new problem but had been around since the qualifying rounds many many months ago.

Everyone knew the French were divided into 2 camps...... with Anelka, Patrice Evra, Sagna, Gael Clichy, Malouda, Abou Diaby and Frank Ribery on one camp..... and Yohan Gourcuff, Djibril Cisse, M Valbuena, Andre P Gignac, Sidney Govou, Abu Diarra, Jeremy Toulalan, Anthony Reveillere and Marc Planus in the other camp.

These two groups just couldn't get along together and if they were playing in the same team would ignore the players from the other group.... that was why France's teamwork was non-existant.

Q: Which camp was William Gallas in?
A: His own camp.

[doctorzlo]

Nicholas Anelka is a huge troublemaker..
Why bring him??? He's not scoring either

I'd rather bring a young striker.. Stupid french shits

[tgs]

There's a clear problem in the camp as the players struggle to look Raymond Domenech in the eye.




Fallacy: as Domenech talks to his squad, very few seem to be attentive to what he's saying.




All in this together: the French squad congregate and discuss their imminent refusal to train.




Field of nightmares: despite training at the Field of Dreams stadium in Knysna,
the name means little and it quickly turns sour as the players leave the session as one.




Going home: the squad march back on to the bus as a stunned football world watches on.




The bus, which contains the entire playing squad, leaves the training pitch, giving a new meaning to the slogan on the side of the bus.

[LottiFurmann]

Domenech delivers the statement on behalf of the France national squad.




Coach Raymond Domenech looks like he hasn't a friend in the world as he reads out the squad's statement to hoards of photographers and journalists.




After his squad has left him, the coach faces the world's media.




Domenech can barely be seen as the media circle him; it will only become more intense as the week goes on.




I quit: Jean Louis Valentin storms out of the training session after hearing of the squad's mutiny,
and later quits his role in the French Football Federation.

[Lt_Apple]

good lah, french didn't deserve to be there in the first place

[Peptobismol]

FIFA should ban France from future World Cup until France got it's national team discipline in order. This is not only bad example for footballing youths but also very bad example for mature players, especially rich players. They already have millions in their bank accounts. When they're not happy, they abuse the manager, then gang up to hold the reputation of the whole country at hostage. How can this be right?

I'm not a France fan, but if they lose, I'd like to see them losing honourably too.

[radikal]

Too many blacks in the squad.

[brraverishhh]

The day Anelka walked into football, it has been a mess. He and his brother who managed him created enough mess that they were nearly kicked out of football. I thought he learnt his lesson. A gifted but selfish player.

Just watch the games - never tackles anyone and just waits for a golden pass.

[TorryJens]

if they cannot unite as a team, they can forget about playing. anyone bet against them will win.

[TorryJens]

The coach is fucked up as well. Basically France won their only World Cup cos they happened to have a good mix of talented players coming together at one stage with Zidane recognised as the numero uno.

Anyway, dun touch the last game between France and S Africa. They might just click or self-destruct. Although I think it will be S Korea/Japan 2002 all over again.

[softy54534]

Good riddance to the france team,the era team of 82 and 94 is badly missed.

[radikal]

If the team was really divided into 2 camps, why did they all decide not to train?
Seems rather united to me.
Perhaps the problem is with the coaching staff.

[softy54534]

FIFA should ban France from future World Cup until France got it's national team discipline in order. This is not only bad example for footballing youths but also very bad example for mature players, especially rich players. They already have millions in their bank accounts. When they're not happy, they abuse the manager, then gang up to hold the reputation of the whole country at hostage. How can this be right?

I'm not a France fan, but if they lose, I'd like to see them losing honourably too.

Problem in this day and age is that playing in the world cup is more of a nuisance and potential source of injuries. All the club managers must be happy when the national team that their players play in get kicked out.

[Beerinkol]

i think the swiss, namely FIFA is stirring trouble in france so that their pet, south africa can go pass round 1.

[tgs]

according to sum soccer websites. erva is going to reveal the truth behind the ugly scene.

wat will it be?

[LottiFurmann]

the team director, Jean Louis Valentin , is also another joker ... how can he quit in the midst of a major tournament ?

This is the time for management staff to handle the crisis, instead of quitting. right ?

Management staff are supposed to be educated guys, unlike the players, who do not have EQ.

Anelka is always problem kid. Every team he play, he dont get along after 1-2 years. He has never been a team player. Any team play will just respect the coach even if the coach want to substitude him.