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By Ian Ladyman
Addressing the nation: France boss Raymond Domenech (right) read out a statement from the players to the watching mediaFrance's disastrous World Cup plunged to a new low on Sunday night as Raymond Domenech’s mutinous players refused to train in protest at the decision to send Nicolas Anelka home.
With the 2006 beaten finalists needing a freakish combination of results on Tuesday to avoid an embarrassing group stage elimination, France’s preparations collapsed at their training base in Knysna on Sunday afternoon.
A day after Anelka had been sent home for an expletive-riddled rant at Domenech during half-time of France’s 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday, the players turned up to work to be greeted by 200 fans.
But things began to unravel as captain Patrice Evra, of Manchester United, fell into an argument with fitness coach Robert Duverne in the middle of the training field.
Domenech came over to intervene but Duverne, incensed by Evra’s attitude, stormed off the field and threw his accreditation badge into a bush. This incident in turn proved to be the last straw for French team director Jean-Louis Valentin, who announced his resignation.
Domenech and his staff were made to loiter embarrassingly for several minutes on the field while they waited for the players to decide what they were going to. And, some time after that humiliation, Domenech was left to read a statement on behalf of his players who by this time were back on the team bus with the curtains closed.
Le Sulk: Nicolas Anelka was sent home from the French squad after a foul-mouthed rant at manager Raymond Domenech‘The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group,’ said the statement, referring to the decision to send Anelka home.
‘They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by the press. As a consequence, and to show our opposition to the decision taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to take part in today’s training session.’
Domenech has fought a losing battle to control his players and has seen them contribute two dire performances against Uruguay and Mexico, leaving them needing a big win over South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday to have any chance of sneaking into the last 16.
Valentin said: ‘It’s a scandal for the federation and the French team. They don’t want to train. It’s unacceptable. As for me, it’s over. I’m leaving the federation. I’m sickened and disgusted.’
The players have been heavily criticised in the French media and Evra, in particular, has taken the fact that the Anelka story leaked to the press very badly.
He said: ‘The problem is not Anelka, it’s the traitor among us who told the press what was said. There’s somebody in our group that wants to harm the France team.
‘I’m still in shock. We have behaved like a small football nation. We are not a great team. I am disgusted.’
Shambles: France players return to their bus after refusing to take part in a trainingOn Sunday director Valentin was asked if he himself was the ‘traitor’ and he appeared to be close to tears as he replied: ‘No, no, no.’ Evra later issued a statement denying that the players suspected their former team director of betraying them.
Hitting the headlines: The bust-up between Nicolas Anelka and Domenech was leaked to the pressOne story that was also denied was a suggestion that winger Franck Ribery had fought with midfielder Yoann Gourcuff on the plane taking the players back to their base after the Mexico game.
Ribery made an emotional and unplanned appearance on French TV on Sunday morning and said: ‘That story is nonsense but of course the team have fallen apart.
‘It’s France that’s suffering, our country. I am suffering. Everyone in the world is laughing at us. We’re not playing football any more.’
Late on Sunday night it emerged that France will train as planned on Monday. Duverne had also been brought back into the fold.
He said: ‘Pat [Evra] didn’t use unkind words and I have nothing against him. I just wanted him to train.’
The affair reached as far as the Elysee Palace on Sunday, with sports minister Roselyne Bachelot saying President Nicolas Sarkozy had asked her to meet Evra, Domenech and the head of the French Football Federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, on Monday.
‘He (Sarkozy) like me, we are taking note of the indignation of the French people and ... calling for dignity and responsibility.’
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